Tech Talk Archives

Larger Designs: Global market trends in the wind rotor and blade market

Aug 29, 2021 | Tech Talk

The market for wind turbine rotors and blades is expected to grow with the greater uptake of both onshore and offshore wind projects. The falling cost of wind power, coupled with favourable government policies and incentives, is expected to further drive market growth. However, manufacturing and transportation constraints, and a further decline in solar power prices are expected to be the key hurdles in the demand growth of blades and rotors.

Production equipment technologies: manufacturing solar cells and modules from wafers

Aug 20, 2021 | Tech Talk

The manufacturing of solar modules can be classified into two stages – pre-cell or silicon-to-wafer stage and post wafer, that is, wafers-to-cells-and-modules. In India, however, there is very little incentive for domestic players to move into the former. This is because the pre-cell process for making wafers from silicon is highly capital intensive. Moreover, China has a stronghold in this domain. With massive investments and a dominant market share, Chinese players supply cost-effective and efficient wafers.

Modernizing power utilities across ASEAN

Aug 12, 2021 | Tech Talk

With the introduction of new technologies, artificial based solutions for addressing such challenges become available. Drones and other unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are increasingly being utilised to automate the planning, construction, and maintenance of energy plants around the world. UAS and digital technologies are making energy sector operations faster, safer, and more cost-effective. The main issue for emerging Asia is to stay up to speed with the rapid pace of global technical innovation while also seizing the opportunities that are available.

The role of offshore renewables in the global energy transition

Jul 29, 2021 | Tech Talk

Energy systems around the world must transition to renewable and clean energy sources and experience significant changes, owing to a combination of technology advancements, the need for affordable energy sources, and the compelling need to combat climate change. In this regard, the world’s oceans are a source of abundant renewable energy, which can be tapped through offshore wind (with fixed and floating foundations, or airborne), floating solar photovoltaics and other emerging ocean energy technologies.

600W+ Ultra High-Efficiency Solar Modules Boost Global Solar Power Growth Outlook

Jul 15, 2021 | Tech Talk

Major solar module manufacturers continue to make technological advancements, with several now offering modules that are equal to or exceed a power output of 600 watts (W). In June 2020, we highlighted the solar module manufacturers push towards offering high-efficiency solar modules that are equal to or exceed 500W capacity, with Risen Energy being the first to announce a 500W+ module in late 2019.

If tech powers the future, who powers the tech?

Jun 14, 2021 | Tech Talk

For the power and utilities (P&U) sector, the long-imagined future of energy is becoming the present: governments are aggressively planning to decarbonize, the prices of renewables and electric vehicles (EVs) are falling, and both customer and investor expectations are becoming more aligned with sustainability. EV adoption will soar, creating a vast replacement market, new fuel opportunities and a new ecosystem tapping into new value pools, but the market is highly competitive.

How cybersecurity can accelerate innovation in power and utilities

May 26, 2021 | Tech Talk

Reliable electricity supply directly impacts the functioning of society, so no wonder why this sector is an extremely attractive target for a range of cybersecurity adversaries. In the EMEA region alone, the energy industry is one of the top sectors prone to a cyberattack, with rising numbers of daily reported incidents. Not only are attacks increasing, but EY’s recent survey also suggests that detecting many of these attacks is getting harder.

In Europe, a Backlash Is Growing Over Incinerating Garbage

May 15, 2021 | Tech Talk

For years, European countries have built “waste-to-energy” incinerators, saying new technology minimized pollution and boosted energy production. But with increasing concern about the plants’ CO2 emissions, the EU is now withdrawing support for these trash-burning facilities.

Nordic TSO’s focus on sector integration and wind power development

May 3, 2021 | Tech Talk

The Nordic transmission system operators (TSOs) face the challenges of the transition to a cleaner energy system and are preparing to act as enablers. In this context, the four TSOs – Energinet.dk (Denmark), Fingrid Ojy (Finland), Statnett SF (Norway) and Svenska Kraftnät AB (Sweden) – are in the process of formulating a common strategy for the next 10 years (up to 2030) to meet the developments in wind power and sector integration.

Cleaning techniques for floating solar systems

Apr 29, 2021 | Tech Talk

Dust and soils have negative impacts on the efficiency of PV panels. Therefore, the importance of cleaning PV panels is considerable from both economic and performance points of view. A key factor to maximizing the economic advantage is the determination of cleaning times. There is no specified cleaning cycle for PV panels, and the soiling rate of the region mostly determines the cleaning frequency.

The potential of zero-carbon and zero-emissions aircraft on intra-European routes by 2040

Apr 16, 2021 | Tech Talk

Globally, aviation connectivity is a strong driver of economic growth, jobs, trade and mobility. At the same time, the growth in air traffic demand needs to be concomitant with maintaining high standards of aviation safety as well as reducing aviation’s environmental footprint.

Eco-design and energy labelling for solar PV in the EU

Mar 31, 2021 | Tech Talk

The European Commission’s policy scenario evaluation concluded that the best way to further regulate PV panels was via a combination of mandatory and voluntary policy instruments. This scenario evaluation considered mandatory instruments such as eco-design measures for photovoltaic panels and inverters, augmented by the use of the Energy Label for residential PV systems, and voluntary instruments such as Green Public Procurement Criteria.

Indonesia’s Biomass Cofiring Bet: Beware of the Implementation Risks

Mar 1, 2021 | Tech Talk

IEEFA believes that a focused effort to prioritize particular regions could be more viable than chasing the dream of an ambitious nation-wide deployment plan. A targeted deployment plan focused on demonstrating commercial viability and PLN’s willingness to support long-term purchase agreements would send a stronger positive signal to attract major investments for the biomass industry. Indonesia has the potential to become a powerhouse for the biomass industry, and the cofiring ambition could be a starting point to spark its development.

Transitioning towards renewable methanol to reduce carbon emissions

Feb 4, 2021 | Tech Talk

A transition to renewable methanol could expand methanol’s use as a chemical feedstock and fuel while moving industrial and transport sectors toward net carbon neutral goals. The cost of renewable methanol production is currently high and production volumes are low. But with the right policies, renewable methanol could be cost competitive by 2050 or earlier.

How charging in buildings can power up the electric-vehicle industry

Jan 11, 2021 | Tech Talk

While EV charging stations in private residences are quite common today, on-site commercial charging will need to become a standard building feature in the next ten years to meet consumer demand. Across the three most advanced EV markets—China, the EU-27 plus the United Kingdom, and the United States—charging in residential and commercial buildings is the dominant place for the foreseeable future and will remain key to scaling the industry.

Strategies for cost reduction of green hydrogen

Jan 5, 2021 | Tech Talk

Gaps in cost and performance are expected to narrow over time as innovation and mass deployment of different electrolysis technologies drive convergence towards similar costs. The wide range in system costs is expected to remain, however, as this is very much dependent on the scale, application and scope of delivery.

Virtual power plants to become a key driver for renewables adoption and integration

Dec 17, 2020 | Tech Talk

A VPP is essentially a network that aggregates multiple smaller-scale generation sources, alongside energy storage systems and flexible power consumers. These VPPs relieve grid load with smart software applications that will enable the balancing and management of power sources to support both the integration of intermittent renewable sources and the adoption of more distributed energy resources (DERs), largely in rooftop solar.

How PV-plus- storage will compete with gas generation in the U.S.

Dec 3, 2020 | Tech Talk

The combination of ever-cheaper energy storage systems and state and federal policy support has heightened utilities’ interest in hybrid projects combining solar photovoltaics and storage (known as PVS for short). There are now over 19 GW of PVS projects in the pipeline in the U.S and expected to come online by 2023, and an additional 80 GW of projects in the interconnection queue.

Why artificial intelligence is a game-changer for renewable energy

Nov 29, 2020 | Tech Talk

AI is revolutionizing the renewables industry, with improved demand forecasting, superior asset management, and operational excellence through automation. As the low-carbon transition gains pace, AI’s ability to seamlessly integrate an enormous increase of intermittent renewable energy will be needed to ensure a stable and reliable grid.

Emerging opportunities for hydrogen and its enabling technologies

Nov 5, 2020 | Tech Talk

While this process of producing green hydrogen is expensive today, it does have a well-articulated path to cost out via falling electrolyser production costs and cheaper renewable power.

Category: Tech Talk

Larger Designs: Global market trends in the wind rotor and blade market

Production equipment technologies: manufacturing solar cells and modules from wafers

Modernizing power utilities across ASEAN

The role of offshore renewables in the global energy transition

600W+ Ultra High-Efficiency Solar Modules Boost Global Solar Power Growth Outlook

If tech powers the future, who powers the tech?

How cybersecurity can accelerate innovation in power and utilities

In Europe, a Backlash Is Growing Over Incinerating Garbage

Nordic TSO’s focus on sector integration and wind power development

Cleaning techniques for floating solar systems

The potential of zero-carbon and zero-emissions aircraft on intra-European routes by 2040

Eco-design and energy labelling for solar PV in the EU

Indonesia’s Biomass Cofiring Bet: Beware of the Implementation Risks

Transitioning towards renewable methanol to reduce carbon emissions

How charging in buildings can power up the electric-vehicle industry

Strategies for cost reduction of green hydrogen

Virtual power plants to become a key driver for renewables adoption and integration

How PV-plus- storage will compete with gas generation in the U.S.

Why artificial intelligence is a game-changer for renewable energy

Emerging opportunities for hydrogen and its enabling technologies

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