Connect with us

Solar Energy

Solar and Farming Can Work Together, Swansea University Researchers Show

Published

on

Solar and Farming Can Work Together, Swansea University Researchers Show


Solar and Farming Can Work Together, Swansea University Researchers Show

by Sophie Jenkins

London, UK (SPX) Sep 11, 2024






Researchers at Swansea University have developed a new tool to help find the best photovoltaic (PV) materials to support both solar energy generation and crop growth.

In a new study published in ‘Solar RRL’, scientists from the Department of Physics explored how semi-transparent PV materials, used in agrivoltaics (combining solar panels with farming), impact crops. Their research is aimed at optimizing the balance between food production and solar power generation.



The team introduced a freeware tool that predicts the performance of various PV materials in terms of light transmission, absorption, and energy generation. This tool, capable of analyzing materials for different locations worldwide, relies on geographical, physical, and electrical data.



Austin Kay, the study’s lead author and a PhD candidate at Swansea University, said: “This technology, which allows us to compare many types of PV material, could help us determine how we balance food production and renewable energy generation.”



One critical factor in agrivoltaics is choosing the right PV material, which depends on how the material absorbs different light wavelengths and its bandgap. A material’s bandgap influences its ability to absorb either higher-energy, short-wavelength light (blue) or lower-energy, long-wavelength light (red).



By selecting PV materials based on these properties, researchers can adjust the light that passes through semi-transparent PV panels to benefit crops. Crops primarily absorb red and blue light for photosynthesis, while they reflect green light.



Associate Professor Ardalan Armin, the project leader, added: “By optimising the combination of solar panels and agriculture, agrivoltaics has the potential to significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of the agricultural sector. This approach not only generates clean energy but also enhances food security.”



Solar panels can be implemented in agriculture in several ways, such as on the roofs of greenhouses or polytunnels, and can even offer shelter for livestock. Livestock, in turn, can help maintain vegetation around the panels. However, the choice of livestock is important since certain animals, like goats, can damage the panels by jumping on them.



Research Report:On the Performance Limits of Agrivoltaics-From Thermodynamic to Geo-Meteorological Considerations


Related Links

Swansea University

All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Solar Energy

Biophotovoltaics: a step forward in sustainable energy technology

Published

on

By

Biophotovoltaics: a step forward in sustainable energy technology


Biophotovoltaics: a step forward in sustainable energy technology

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 14, 2025







In an important study published in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, researchers have unveiled new insights into biophotovoltaic (BPV) systems. These advanced systems integrate photosynthetic microbes with electrochemical components to transform sunlight into electricity. By utilizing the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, the research explores the molecular processes that make this green energy technology viable.

The study focuses on extracellular electron transfer (EET), a process where electrons produced during photosynthesis are captured by an electrode using mediators like ferricyanide. Findings indicate that EET does not interfere significantly with cell growth, carbon fixation, or oxygen evolution. However, it interacts with photoprotective mechanisms, known as Mehler-like reactions, by redirecting electrons downstream of photosystem I. This discovery is vital for understanding the electron source in ferricyanide-mediated EET and advancing BPV system efficiency.



Another key observation is that high concentrations of ferricyanide can independently affect the electron transport chain, replicating the impact of trace cyanide. This highlights the importance of carefully managing mediator concentrations to improve performance while mitigating potential biotoxic effects.



“This research provides a molecular-level understanding of photosynthetic electron flow in BPV systems, paving the way for more efficient designs,” the authors stated. The study underlines the dual functionality of BPV systems: generating clean electricity and acting as a carbon sink. This represents a critical step toward more sustainable energy solutions.



Looking ahead, future research will aim to refine the use of mediators, optimize electron pathways, and investigate alternative methods to further enhance BPV systems for practical applications.



Research Report:Molecular dynamics of photosynthetic electron flow in a biophotovoltaic system


Related Links

Agrivoltaics at SolarDaily

All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com





Source link

Continue Reading

Solar Energy

Light flexible and radiation resistant organic solar cells for space

Published

on

By

Light flexible and radiation resistant organic solar cells for space


Light flexible and radiation resistant organic solar cells for space

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 13, 2025






Radiation tests suggest that carbon-based organic solar cells could surpass traditional silicon and gallium arsenide cells in efficiency and durability for space applications, according to a University of Michigan study.

Previous research primarily examined how radiation affected the energy conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. This new study delved into molecular-level changes that degrade performance.



“Silicon semiconductors aren’t stable in space because of proton irradiation coming from the sun,” explained Yongxi Li, first author of the study and a former U-M associate research scientist in electrical and computer engineering. “We tested organic photovoltaics with protons because they are considered the most damaging particles in space for electronic materials.”



While gallium arsenide is favored for its efficiency and resilience against proton damage, its weight, inflexibility, and high cost pose challenges. Organic solar cells, on the other hand, are lightweight, flexible, and potentially more affordable. This study is part of ongoing efforts to assess the reliability of organic materials for critical space missions.



Organic solar cells built from small molecules demonstrated strong resistance to proton radiation, showing no performance degradation after simulated exposure equivalent to three years in space. In contrast, cells made with polymer-based materials lost half their efficiency over the same period.



“We found that protons cleave some of the side chains, and that leaves an electron trap that degrades solar cell performance,” said Stephen Forrest, the Peter A. Franken Distinguished University Professor of Engineering at U-M and lead corresponding author. These traps capture electrons generated by light, reducing the flow of electricity to the electrodes.



Forrest noted that heating the solar cells, a process known as thermal annealing, can repair the damage by restoring broken molecular bonds. “You can heal this by thermal annealing, or heating the solar cell. But we might find ways to fill the traps with other atoms, eliminating this problem,” he added.



The study suggests that solar cells exposed to sunlight in space could self-repair at temperatures around 100C. However, questions about the effectiveness of this self-healing in a vacuum and its reliability for extended missions remain. The team is also exploring ways to design materials that prevent the formation of electron traps altogether.



Li, now an incoming associate professor of advanced materials and manufacturing at Nanjing University in China, plans to further investigate these avenues.



The research received funding from Universal Display Corp and the U.S. Office of Naval Research. The devices were fabricated at the Lurie Nanofabrication Facility, tested with proton beams at the Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory, and analyzed at the Michigan Center for Materials Characterization.



U-M Innovation Partnerships is assisting the team in patent applications, with Universal Display licensing the technology and filing additional patents. Forrest holds a financial interest in Universal Display Corp.



Research Report:Radiation hardness of organic photovoltaics


Related Links

Michigan Center for Materials Characterization.

All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com





Source link

Continue Reading

Solar Energy

At CES, AI-powered garbage trucks reduce battery fire risk

Published

on

By

At CES, AI-powered garbage trucks reduce battery fire risk


At CES, AI-powered garbage trucks reduce battery fire risk

By John BIERS

Las Vegas (AFP) Jan 10, 2025






From laptops to EVs, lithium-ion batteries have fueled phenomenal growth in the 21st century, but businesses struggle with a significant downside: increased fire risk.

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), companies unveiled a next-generation garbage truck designed to detect these highly flammable batteries.

The innovation comes as careless disposal of batteries from smartphones, electric toothbrushes, and other gadgets has become an acute problem at recycling centers. The owner of a New Jersey recycling plant that caught fire early Thursday pointed to the batteries as a likely cause.

In the United States, across the industry, “a couple of recycling centers burn down every year,” said Jon Vander Ark, chief executive of waste management company Republic Services.

Republic showcased their solution at CES: a state-of-the-art garbage truck built by industrial company Oshkosh that screens for the batteries.

The vehicle resembles a conventional garbage truck, weighing in at more than 41,000 pounds and capable of carrying nine tons of cargo. But it is fully electric and outfitted with AI software that scans for problem refuse in garbage and recycling loads.

While Republic already uses detection systems at recycling facilities, batteries sometimes slip through.

If undetected, a forklift can run over a small battery and start a fire, Vander Ark told AFP.

The new trucks allow drivers to flag collections containing batteries as sensitive loads before they reach recycling plants.

“Getting that out of the stream is of huge value to us,” said Vander Ark.

– Value in trash –

The Oshkosh booth also showcased electric arm technology that can speed up trash collections and software that identifies non-recyclable contamination in recycling bins.

The spiffed-up vehicles provide a font of operational data that can make better use of a trash driver’s time, said Oshkosh CEO John Pfeifer.

Companies can pinpoint contamination sources to educate customers or fine repeat offenders, he explained.

The trucks even capture video evidence when drivers can’t access bins due to blocked pickup spots.

“When a customer asks, ‘Why didn’t you pick me up?’…we have video evidence,” said Vander Ark.

He noted that waste management is particularly well-suited for electrification since trucks typically travel shorter distances per shift, eliminating the range concerns that often deter everyday EV consumers.

The quieter electric trucks could also allow for earlier morning collections when traffic is lighter, while their overnight charging capability ensures operational readiness.

Related Links

Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending