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Harvard Tackles Energy Storage Inspired By Vitamins (Yes, Vitamins)

Harvard University researchers say they have identified a new class of high-performing organic molecules, inspired by vitamin B2, that can safely store electricity from intermittent energy sources - such as wind and solar power - in large batteries.

According to a news release from the university’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the development builds on previous work in which the team developed a high-capacity flow battery that stored energy in organic molecules called quinones and a food additive called ferrocyanide. The researchers say that advancement was a game-changer because it delivered high-performance, non-flammable, non-toxic, non-corrosive and low-cost chemicals that could enable large-scale, inexpensive electricity storage.

The university says although the versatile quinones show great promise for flow batteries, Harvard researchers continued to explore other organic molecules in pursuit of even better performance. However, the researchers say finding that same versatility in other organic systems has been challenging.

“Now, after considering about a million different quinones, we have developed a new class of battery electrolyte material that expands the possibilities of what we can do,” says Kaixiang Lin, a Ph.D. student at Harvard and first author of the researchers’ paper on the topic. “Its simple synthesis means it should be manufacturable on a large scale at a very low cost - which is an important goal of this project.”

Flow batteries store energy in solutions in external tanks - and the bigger the tanks, the more energy they store, Harvard explains.

In 2014, Michael J. Aziz, the Gene and Tracy Sykes professor of materials and energy technologies at SEAS; Roy Gordon, the Thomas Dudley Cabot professor of chemistry and professor of materials science; Alán Aspuru-Guzik, professor of chemistry; and their team at Harvard replaced metal ions used as conventional battery electrolyte materials in acidic electrolytes with quinones, which store energy in plants and animals. In 2015, they developed a quinone that could work in alkaline solutions alongside a common food additive.

In this most recent research, the team found inspiration in vitamin B2, which helps to store energy from food in the body. According to the researchers, the key difference between B2 and quinones is that nitrogen atoms, instead of oxygen atoms, are involved in picking up and giving off electrons.

“With only a couple of tweaks to the original B2 molecule, this new group of molecules becomes a good candidate for alkaline flow batteries,” says Aziz. “They have high stability and solubility and provide high battery voltage and storage capacity. Because vitamins are remarkably easy to make, this molecule could be manufactured on a large scale at a very low cost.”

Harvard says the team will continue to explore quinones, as well as this new universe of molecules, in pursuit of a high-performing, long-lasting and inexpensive flow battery. The university adds that its Office of Technology Development has been working closely with the research team to navigate the shifting complexities of the energy storage market and build relationships with companies well positioned to commercialize the new chemistries.

 

SMA Expands Residential Inverter Portfolio

SMA has added four new models to its redesigned Sunny Boy inverter line, expanding its portfolio of residential inverter solutions. The UL-listed Sunny Boy 3.0-US, 3.8-US, 7.0-US and 7.7-US join the 5.0-US and 6.0-US in the newest Sunny Boy lineup.

According to the company, the new models offer a host of improvements that reduce costs and improve return on investment, as well as an enhanced Secure Power Supply feature that now provides up to 2,000 W of opportunity power in the event of a grid outage.

“The expanded Sunny Boy portfolio is SMA’s most installer-friendly offering to date,” says Marko Wittich, SMA executive vice president of sales for the Americas region. “It provides installers with a broad range of inverter sizes to choose from, allowing greater flexibility in addressing consumer needs while reducing costs.”

With 75% fewer required connections compared with previous generations, the newest Sunny Boy models are simpler to install, according to SMA. The company says Sunny Boy provides up to three maximum power point trackers and various stringing combinations. SMA adds that Sunny Boy also boasts grid-support capabilities, such as maintaining voltage, frequency and general grid health, to meet the UL 1741 SA draft standard. (For more on UL 1741 SA, check out “Advanced Inverters: The Coming Standards Bring New Opportunities”.)

The entire Sunny Boy line, accessories and Rapid Shutdown System are now available through SMA’s North American distribution program.

 

IRENA Offers Solar Resource Data From Vaisala

Vaisala, an environmental and industrial measurement company, has partnered with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to provide free access to its global renewable energy resource data.

Under the partnership, Vaisala is making its average annual solar irradiation and wind speed maps available for free download via IRENA’s Global Atlas for Renewable Energy. In doing so, IRENA and Vaisala say they are giving developers, policymakers and researchers access to globally consistent resource data that can be used in setting policy and performing initial project planning and prospecting.

The new download feature in IRENA’s Global Atlas platform will allow users to integrate Vaisala’s wind and solar data sets into their own software and modeling programs. In turn, the partners say, this will enable developers to conduct offline analysis to inform prospecting efforts in new territories and ultimately influence investment decisions.

Nicolas Fichaux, senior program officer at IRENA, says he is proud of the progress the Global Atlas has made since it was launched in 2013.

“Our common goal is to accelerate the growth of renewables worldwide. To do this, we need to increase the confidence of governments, investors, and the supply chain in new and emerging renewable energy markets - and for this, we need maps to show us where the resources are,” explains Fichaux.

“By pushing the boundaries of publicly available resource data, IRENA and Vaisala are helping the sector to move faster by lowering the complexity of entry into new renewable energy markets,” he continues. “The private sector recognizes the challenge, and this contribution from Vaisala demonstrates their continued support of our goals.”

Pascal Storck, global manager of energy services at Vaisala, adds, “Working with IRENA as part of the Global Atlas initiative gives us the opportunity to maximize the reach of our global wind and solar data sets to the benefit of the international renewable energy development community and its ambitions in promising new markets.”

Vaisala’s data can be downloaded from the Vaisala map in the Global Atlas in GeoTIFF format in portions of 4 MB. Vaisala says its global solar data set provides average annual GHI at 3 km resolution. The data is based on over 10 years of hourly data derived from satellite imagery and validated against ground measurements. Meanwhile, the company adds, the wind data set provides average annual wind speeds at a height of 80 meters and a resolution of 5 km, based on 10 years of hourly data from simulations and validated against ground measurements.

 

Seaward Introduces Multipurpose PV Tester

Florida-based Seaward Group USA has introduced PV210, a multipurpose solar PV tester that combines installation and commissioning tests with the ability to perform I-V curve analysis.

The company says that using simple push-button operation, the battery-powered PV210 carries out all of the electrical commissioning tests required by IEC 62446, including open circuit voltage, short circuit current, maximum power point voltage, current and power, and insulation resistance.

Alongside the electrical tests, the PV210 also performs I-V curve measurements in accordance with IEC 61829 to determine if the measured curve deviates from the expected profile, highlighting the need for any further analysis or fault finding. The fill factor of PV systems can also be assessed.

For full detailed analysis, measured data can be transferred from the test instrument to an accompanying PVMobile Android app using wireless NFC connectivity to create color displays of the I-V and power curves for individual PV modules or strings, adds Seaward. In this way, the company says the visual comparison of curve shapes can be used to identify potential problems, such as shading, defective cells or poor electrical connections.

The data can also be stored in the PV210’s onboard memory and downloaded to a computer via USB connection. When used with the optional SolarCert Elements 2 software program, downloaded data can be organized using a layered tree structure showing strings, combiner boxes and inverters. In addition, professional inspection and test reports can be produced, including IEC 62446 measurements and I-V curve plots.

 

TerraSmart Launches TF2 Ground-Mount System

TerraSmart, a provider of turnkey solar mounting, has introduced its new TF2 fixed-tilt ground-mount racking system, which the company says features a ground-screw foundation suited for difficult soil conditions.

According to the company, the TF2 system offers faster installation, as the system uses integrated electrical bonding and incorporates 66% less hardware compared with TerraSmart’s previous rack. The TF2’s lighter-yet-stiffer components also make the system safer to handle on-site and enable more economical shipping, the company adds. The system has passed the exacting standards of UL 2703 Edition 1, complies with the National Electric Code and has undergone wind-tunnel tests.

“Our new TF2 rack builds upon years of proven installation success on hilly, undulating terrain to accelerate project timelines and reduce project costs,” says Ryan Reid, TerraSmart’s founder and president. “With slope capabilities up to 36 percent, the TF2 minimizes pre-construction civil work and potential delays frequently encountered while excavating previously untouched soils.”