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Heliatek sets new organic photovoltaic world record efficiency of 13.2%
Renewable Energy Focus Volume 17, Number 3 May/June 2016
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News Digest Heliatek sets new organic photovoltaic world record efficiency of 13.2% Heliatek R&D teams have reached a record conversion efficiency of 13.2% for an OPV multi-junction cell, setting a new world record for the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity using organic photovoltaic cells. The company says that, thanks to the low light and high temperature behavior of the organic semiconductor, the electricity generation of the newly developed cells corresponds to the output of conventional solar cells with 16–17% efficiency when both are under real world conditions. Dr. Martin Pfeiffer, CTO of Heliatek, says: ‘‘We are very proud of this new world record. This success is based on our chemical research for new organic absorber materials. Key to this success is the close cooperation of our physics and chemistry R&D teams,
Heliatek’s record breaking Heliafilm solar film (Image courtesy of Heliatek).
which leads to an optimal combination of the properties of this new solar cell design.’’ ‘‘I am delighted by this latest result,’’ adds Thibaud Le Se´guillon, CEO of Heliatek. ‘‘It validates our choice to internalize our R&D, both by developing new absorber molecules
and optimizing the device architecture. This will provide the baseline for efficiency in our large-volume manufacturing line. With our HeliaFilm1, we are clearly executing our strategy to provide de-carbonized, de-centralized energy generation directly on buildings all over the world.’’ The world-record cell is a multi-junction cell combining three different absorbers. Each of them is dedicated to efficiently convert green-, red- or near-infrared light of the wavelength range between 450 and 950 nm into electricity. These absorber molecules have been developed and are patented by Heliatek. The new record efficiency was measured at simulated AM 1.5 illumination and was confirmed by the Fraunhofer – Center for Silizium-Photovoltaik – CSP.
In a first, Chinese firm tops annual ranking of wind turbine makers In 2015 a Chinese firm, for the first time, topped an annual ranking of onshore wind turbine manufacturers. Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology led Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s annual rankings with 7.8 GW of capacity commissioned, aided by a surging Chinese market that installed a record 28.7 GW last year. Virtually all Goldwind’s 2015 capacity was built in China, a market where, combined, foreign manufacturers accounted for less than 5% of market share. Denmark’s Vestas followed in second place with 7.3 GW commissioned, up 2.5 GW from 2014. The company pursued a global strategy, commissioning projects in
32 countries globally, 18 more than the next-highest competitor. GE fell from first place last year to third in 2015 with 5.9 GW, 700 MW more than it commissioned in 2014. GE is the largest turbine provider to the US market, which accounts for 62% of its global installations. ‘‘It’s hardly surprising that five Chinese manufacturers made the top ten ranking in a year where China contributed roughly half of the global capacity,’’ said Amy Grace, head of wind research for BNEF. ‘‘It is more surprising how dominant Goldwind was in its domestic market. The company commissioned more than two-and-a-half times the amount of capacity as the next largest Chinese manufacturer, Guodian.’’
In the onshore segment, which accounts for the vast bulk of the market, Germany’s Siemens tied for fourth place with Spain’s Gamesa as both companies installed 3.1 GW in 2015. Meanwhile, German firm Enercon fell to sixth place. Enercon continues to dominate its home market, which accounted for 48% of its turbines commissioned in 2015. Four Chinese manufacturers feature in the bottom half of the global top ten onshore ranking. Guodian fell to seventh place from sixth last year, Ming Yang and Envision tied for eighth place, and CSIC joins the list for the first time in tenth place with 2 GW of installed capacity.
1755-0084/ß 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2016.04.002
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The cow’s digestive system could revolutionise renewable energy, according to a group of researchers. A group of scientists are looking at the way relatively unknown fungi works inside the guts of herbivores, including elephants and cows, in the hope that it holds the key to revolutionising biomass technology. Professor Theodorou, leader of the Agricultural Centre of Sustainable Energy Systems (ACSES) at Harper Adams University, is among the group of scientists researching the potential benefits of these gut fungi. He said: ‘‘Renewable technologies are looking to use renewable plant biomass resources for chemical and fuel production, making us less reliant on fossil fuel.’’ Currently, a genetically-modified solution is being used in the biomass process, but this is costly due to needing an expensive pretreatment so that the plant biomass can be successfully digested. This is then followed by the fermentation of released sugars by yeast to produce products such as bio-ethanol. Professor Theodorou said ‘‘The objective of our work was to find an alternative, more
Anaerobic fungi (Image courtesy of Harper Adams University).
straight-forward platform, mimicking the conversion of plant biomass to useful products in nature.’’
‘‘In our work so far, we have identified hundreds of enzymes from the gut fungi, which have commercial biotechnology potential. It is because these fungi are able to survive in such a highly-competitive microbial ecosystem, where a myriad of protagonists seek to degrade plant biomass, that we believe they are so effective at their job.’’ ‘‘In the herbivores digestive system, these microorganisms convert plant biomass to sugars which are further processed as energy sources for the animal. Moreover, the gut fungi are able to achieve plant biomass conversion effectively and without the need for chemical pre-treatment.’’ ‘‘We have so far shown that some of these enzymes are substantially better than the current solution at converting plant biomass to sugars.’’ ‘‘We need to invest more resources to study this group of relatively unknown microorganisms. They may hold the key to the renewable technology of effective biomass conversion. Their full potential must be explored and exploited.’’
Korean energy storage project features largest lithium NMC system deployed for electricity grid frequency regulation In South Korea, battery company Kokam has deployed two lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) oxide energy storage systems (ESS) – rated at 24 MW/9 MWh and 16 MW/6 MWh – for frequency regulation on the national electricity grid. The company says that the 24 MW system is the world’s largest-capacity lithium NMC ESS used for frequency regulation. The two new Kokam systems have been operational since January 2016, along with a Kokam 16 MW/5 MWh lithium titanate oxide (LTO) energy storage system deployed in August 2015. They now provide South Korea’s largest utility, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), with 56 MW of energy storage capacity for frequency regulation. Together these three systems are part of the world’s largest ESS frequency regulation project, says the company, which is scheduled to have deployed 500 MW of battery-based energy storage when it is completed in 2017. In addition to improving grid reliability, the Kokam ESSs will enable KEPCO to improve its operational efficiency by
This Kokam 16 MW lithium NMC Energy Storage System (ESS), along with two other Kokam ESSs totaling 40 MW in capacity, are being deployed for frequency regulation with South Korea’s largest utility, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) (Image courtesy of Kokam Co. Ltd.).
reducing its need for spinning power generation reserves. This will allow KEPCO to shift energy generation to lower-cost, more efficient power plants, and reduce ‘wear and tear’ on all of its power plants. For example, these three Kokam energy storage systems will deliver estimated
annual savings of US$13 million in fuel costs, providing fuel cost savings three times higher than the ESS purchase price over the systems’ lifetimes. In addition, by reducing the amount of fossil fuels burnt for frequency regulation, the ESSs will help reduce KEPCO’s greenhouse gas emissions. ‘Our energy storage systems provide KEPCO with the performance it needs to precisely and cost-effectively regulate frequency on the South Korean grid, helping it ensure the stability of this grid, improve its operational efficiency, and lower its greenhouse gas emissions,’ says Ike Hong, Vice President of Kokam’s Power Solutions Division. ‘Kokam’s 56 MW of energy storage systems are making a major contribution to the stabilisation of our grid,’ adds Dr. Hwang Woohyun, Senior Vice President and Head of the Innovative Energy Business Division at KEPCO. ‘We hope to continue to cooperate with Kokam to develop energy storage projects that improve grid reliability, lower our operational costs, and reduce our environmental impact.’ 85
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Digestive system of cows seen as potential resource to biomass renewable technology
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The new 24 MW and 16 MW lithium NMC ESSs utilise Kokam’s innovative ultra high power NMC battery technology. This is designed for high-power energy storage applications, such as frequency regulation, wind or large solar power system ramp rate control, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), and voltage support. Kokam’s ultra high power NMC battery technology offers higher energy density,
Renewable Energy Focus Volume 17, Number 3 May/June 2016
which enables 2.4 MWh of energy storage to be installed in a 40 ft (12 m) container, compared to 1–1.5 MWh of energy storage for standard NMC batteries. In addition, the ultra high power NMC batteries can last up to 10,000 cycles, compared to 3000–5000 cycles for standard NMC technologies, increasing an energy storage system’s expected life. Kokam says that its ultra high power NMC battery technology has charge, discharge,
and maximum power rates of 4 C, 8 C and 15 C, respectively, compared to 2 C, 3 C and 4 C for competitors, which enables systems to receive and dispatch more power when needed. And with a heat dissipation rate that is claimed to be 1.6 times better than standard NMC technologies, the ultra high power NMC batteries can be used at a higher rate for longer periods of time with no degradation in battery life or performance.
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2015 sees solar in Europe increase by 15% In 2015, solar grew by 15% in Europe connecting 8 GW of solar power to the grid, reports SolarPower Europe. Global grid-connected solar increased by 25% to an estimated 50.1 GW in 2015, from 40.2 GW in 2014. ‘‘2015 was an extremely successful year for solar and after 3 consecutive years of decline in Europe it is especially encouraging to see the sector grow again’’ says Oliver Schafer, President of SolarPower Europe. The base for Europe’s solar power demand in 2015 derived from mainly 3 countries – UK, Germany and France. These top 3 markets counted for 75% of the connections, equal to 5.3 GW. In 2014 their share was also 75%, but equal to 6 GW. For the second
year in a row, the UK took first place with an estimated 3.7 GW. With nearly 100 GW of installed capacity, Europe is still the most solarised continent. No other region can boast solar shares as high as Europe – on average nearly 4% of electricity consumption and in its most mature markets, such as Germany, Greece and Italy, around 8%. ‘‘The challenge is now to quickly master the transition phase – from European solar markets that grew on very high premium feed-in tariff incentives, to new marketbased frameworks, where prosumers use solar power for self-consumption in residential, commercial and industrial sectors. We must now create a smart
market design that builds on the strengths of the solar power technology to be able to profit from the low cost solar has achieved,’’ says James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe. On a global level, new solar power capacity increased by 25%, adding 50 GW in 2015. An estimate 228 GW of solar power are now installed in the world, up from 178 GW in 2014. The two biggest markets are again located in Asia – China and Japan, the US ranked third. China not only added more than twice as much solar as Europe, it also exceeded 40 GW of total installed capacity, taking over as the number one country from long-time leader Germany.
Cumulative global installed PV to reach 310 GW by end of 2016 By the end of 2016, cumulative global installed photovoltaic (PV) installations will surpass 310 gigawatts (GW), compared to just 40 GW at the end of 2010, according to IHS. Five countries account for 70% of this capacity; China, the United States, Japan, Germany and Italy. With annual installations stalling, IHS claims that Germany will fall from the second-largest installed base for PV to the fourth largest, surpassed by the United States and Japan. ‘‘A continued stagnation of major European PV markets due to weaker financial incentives has caused PV additions in Europe to slow dramatically in recent years, but global demand remains strong,’’ said Josefin Berg, senior analyst of solar demand for IHS Technology. ‘‘The supply chain continues to benefit from a period of relatively stable pricing, and there could be a new wave of capacity expansions.’’ During the last months of 2015, the global PV industry continued to enjoy strong 86
Cumulative global installed PV installations will surpass 310 GW in 2016 (Image courtesy of Shutterstock).
growth. While some regional markets present challenges to local suppliers, the current outlook from IHS for the global industry in 2016 remains positive. After growing 35% in 2015, global PV installations are forecast to grow an additional 17% in 2016, culminating in 21 GW of PV to be installed worldwide in the fourth quarter.
Research from IHS shows that global PV installed capacity is expected to increase by 69 GW throughout 2016, compared to 59 GW of annual installations in 2015. The U.S., India and China are anticipated to grow by 5.6 GW, 2.7 GW and 0.9 GW, respectively, in total accounting for 9.3 GW of the 10 GW increase. Continued strong solar PV demand will also support stable module pricing, according to the company. Average PV module prices are expected to fall less than 5% in 2016, which is the smallest year-over-year decline recorded by IHS. Ultimately, 2015 was a positive year for the PV module manufacturing industry, with industry average gross margins reaching 22%. As a result of declines in polysilicon prices and strong pricing in some markets, total gross profit from modules reached $8.5 billion in 2015, which is the highest level since 2011.
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Driven by large and widespread feedstocks and government incentives, Southeast Asia is positioned to be a hub for bio-based materials and chemicals (BBMC), according to a report released by Lux Research. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand – the three largest producers of palm oil – are parlaying their natural strengths into the emerging BBMC space, says Lux Research. Malaysia is focusing on new oleochemicals while Thailand is focusing on bioplastics; Indonesia has ample feedstock but presents more challenges due to a lack of government support for bio-based chemicals. ‘‘Historically, most of the venture capital investment in BBMC has gone to start-ups based in North America and Europe,’’ said Julia Allen, Lux Research Analyst and an author of the report titled, Assessing the Bio-based Chemicals Landscape in
Southeast Asia, which is part of the Lux Research Bio-based Materials and Chemicals Intelligence and the Coatings Intelligence services. ‘‘Firms such as Altranex, for example, could develop supply chains in this region to tap into locally available feedstocks, like fat-rich waste effluents,’’ she added. Lux Research analysts evaluated growth of the BBMC industry in Southeast Asia and the opportunities it presents to global investors. Among their findings:
Malaysia’s palm oil boosts the potential for new oleochemical technologies. Malaysia, the world’s second largest producer of palm oil, is best suited to produce new oleochemicals. Foreign companies such as Verdezyne and Biosynthetic Technologies have received
investments from local conglomerate Sime Darby. Thailand aims to be an ideal site for bioplastics. Thailand enjoys numerous advantages in bioplastic manufacturing. It has ample sugarcane – 100 million MT in 2013 – and enjoys supportive policies. Foreign players here include NatureWorks and Corbion Purac. Elevance is the sole commercial biobased chemical player in Indonesia. Indonesia’s lack of government support and suboptimal infrastructure make the world’s largest producer of palm oil – 33 million MT in 2014 – a less attractive geography. Elevance does have a 180,000 MT oleochemical facility and the potential to double capacity, but has delayed scale-up plans.
AWEA releases key data on 2015 U.S wind generation The AWEA has released findings as part of its 2015 U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report that demonstrate the benefits of wind power generation in the US beyond its economic advantages. U.S. wind farms now pay $222 million dollars a year to farming families and other rural landowners, according to new data released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), with more than $156 million dollars going to landowners in counties with below average incomes. Wind energy generation saves approximately 226 gallons of water for every American each year according to the new data released by AWEA, creating another benefit for rural livelihoods that depend on significant use of freshwater to raise livestock or grow crops. ‘‘The rapid growth of wind energy largely benefits rural communities, including some of the most economically distressed parts of the U.S.,’’ said Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA. ‘‘Wind farms pay $222 million dollars a year to U.S. farmers, ranchers and other rural landowners, helping them to make ends meet, send their kids to college, or even keep that 100-year old ranch in the family. By continuing to grow this locally-made, drought-resistant cash crop, wind power can unleash even greater economic and water-saving benefits for these communities.’’
191 million megawatt-hours of wind power was generated in the U.S in 2015 (Image courtesy of Shutterstock).
The overwhelming majority of U.S. wind farms today operate in rural areas, according to AWEA. Landowners in six states currently receive over $10 million dollars a year in lease payments, with Texas ranked number one, followed by Iowa, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Kansas. Landowners in 26 different states receive over $1 million dollars each year. ‘‘The wind farm allowed us to be able to keep our family farm,’’ said Jason Wilson from Calhan, Colorado. ‘‘We had come to a point where it no longer made financial sense to keep the property even with its vast sentimental value. The wind farm balanced the financial viability with the sentimental value, allowing the family farm to continue to be passed on to the next generation.’’
Approximately 70% of rural wind farms in the U.S. are located in low-income counties, meaning that the median household incomes fall below the U.S. median household income. This share of wind development in rural areas represents more than $101 billion in wind farm investment. ‘‘To me wind energy means that this farm land will pretty much stay in our hands,’’ said Keith Mueggenborg, an Oklahoma landowner. Wind farms also pay taxes that contribute new revenue to local communities, benefiting schools, county and local services, libraries, hospitals, and public safety facilities. For example, Oklahoma wind farms return over a $1 billion dollars in property taxes to counties and local schools over their life according to an Oklahoma State Chamber report in 2015. In Ohio, a single wind farm is the largest taxpayer in one county and local school officials report the wind farm adds $400,000 a year in new revenue, even helping to supply over 900 new computers for students. Beyond wind’s economic benefits, the production of clean wind energy significantly conserves water resources that would otherwise be used to cool thermal power plants. America’s world-class wind energy production creates greater access to 87
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Southeast Asia promising hub for emerging bio-based chemicals
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freshwater resources, another benefit to rural farmers and ranchers – especially for those living in areas of the U.S. most susceptible to drought. The AWEA findings shows that the 191 million megawatt-hours of wind generation in 2015, enough electricity for about 17.5 million American homes, led to nearly 73 billion gallons of water saved (about 553 billion bottles of water). Iowa produced 31% of its electricity from wind last year, and a total of 12 states generated 10% or more. Oregon recently joined California, Hawaii, and Vermont as part of a growing list of states choosing to implement
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renewable portfolio standards (RPS) requiring 50% or more of their electricity to come from renewable energy. Pending legislation in New York could add the Empire State as the fifth member of this group. ‘‘States with the best policies will continue to attract the new investment in this locally-made, drought-resistant cash crop, further benefiting their state economies,’’ said Kiernan. States have chosen to expand RPS policies because they help to diversify the electricity mix and deliver substantial consumer savings. Meeting these RPS targets is achievable without sacrificing reliability or raising costs.
Wind power costs two-thirds of what it did six years ago, says the AWEA, and in some parts of the U.S. wind power is the lowest-cost option for generating electricity. Those savings are being passed onto American families and businesses. Consumers in the 10 states with the most renewable energy pay less on their electric bills than the 10 states with the least amount of renewables. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE), by 2030 $650 million will be payable to landowners each year. and wind energy could help conserve 260 billion gallons of water each year.
Jenny Hogan, Director of Policy for Scottish Renewables said: ‘‘This is another important milestone for our industry and shows renewables are now a mainstream part of our power sector. ‘‘There is still a huge amount of potential for future growth, if the industry is given the right backing by government.’’ Ms. Hogan warned that there is doubt over how achievable the next target set for the industry is. She said: ‘‘Despite having enough projects in the pipeline, recent changes to gov-
ernment support, and hold ups in the consenting process for offshore wind farms, have set us on a path to fall short of the 2020 target.’’ The figures from DECC also show that output from renewable energy sources in Scotland grew by 15% from 2014 which has been largely due to an increase in onshore wind, hydro and solar generation. These approximate statistics will be confirmed once the consumption figure of electricity in 2015 is made available later this year.
Scotland beats renewables target Figures show Scotland generated the equivalent of more than half its electricity needs from renewable sources in 2015, surpassing the 50% target set by Ministers. Based on the latest consumption figures from 2014, renewables now generate the equivalent of 57% of Scotland’s power needs. The new statistic, published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, means Scotland is now more than halfway towards its target of producing the equivalent of 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Clean Energy Council to improve quality and performance of solar panels in Australia The Clean Energy Council has introduced new initiatives that they believe will substantially lift the bar on the quality of solar power products sold in Australia. The Council’s Chief Executive Kane Thornton said the changes were the latest in a series of proactive steps by the industry to ensure the absolute highest standards for people buying solar power systems. ‘‘Solar panels and inverters already need to be independently tested and demonstrate their compliance with Australian Standards before they can be sold here, which is an appropriate protection for consumers,’’ Mr. Thornton said. ‘‘These products are then included on lists of approved solar power modules and inverters, which are available from the Clean Energy Council’s Solar Accreditation website.
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Rooftop solar panels in Sydney, Australia (Image courtesy of Shutterstock).
‘‘An independent testing program is being introduced for solar panels and inverters to ensure that the actual performance of products being sold in Australia live up to their marketing claims. Products that are not up to standard will be removed from
the Clean Energy Council lists of approved products. ‘‘Likewise, products can now be de-listed if suppliers breach consumer law – such as a failure to honour warranties – effectively removing their eligibility for government incentives. ‘‘These changes will improve overall product quality in the solar industry by making sure customers get what they pay for when buying panels and inverters, and by penalising companies that do the wrong thing. Protecting consumers is our highest priority.’’ Mr. Thornton said the introduction of other initiatives by the Clean Energy Council, such as the Solar Retailer Code of Conduct and the continuous professional development program for solar installers, were also helping to progressively improve standards across the industry.
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ACCIONA Energı´a has been awarded the supply of 585.7 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity in the first long-term power auction in the wholesale electric power market organized by the National Energy Control Center (CENACE) of Mexico. This will be materialized in a 168 megawatt (MW) wind farm in the State of Tamaulipas that will enter service in 2018. ACCIONA Energı´a currently owns and operates 556.5 MW in Mexico, with four wind farms in Oaxaca that account for around 20% of the operational wind power capacity in the country, and has built another 303 MW for customers. The result of the latest auction strengthens the company’s presence in Mexico as one of the main players in the country’s renewables market. The El Cortijo wind power project, whose production was awarded together with the corresponding Clean Energy Certificates (CEL), will be located 40 km south of the
ACCIONA Energia continues to strengthen its presence in Mexico (Image courtesy of Acciona Energia).
city of Reynosa. It will consist of fifty-six 3 MW ACCIONA Windpower turbines that will generate electricity equivalent to the consumption of around 350,000 homes in the area, avoiding the emission of more than 563,000 metric tons of CO2 to the atmosphere from conventional coal-fired power stations.
Construction work is planned to start in 2017, with the wind farm being operational by mid-2018. The energy produced will be supplied to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) under a long-term contract of15 years, according to the company. This first auction, in which 227 bids were received from 69 tenderers, awarded a total of 5385.72 GWh to 11 bids from 7 tenderers. It is part of an initiative by the Mexican authorities to integrate renewable energies into the country’s electric power system following an Energy Reform in 2013. Between 2015 and 2018 the Mexican government plans to incorporate 6 GW of renewable origin with an estimated investment of 14 billion US dollars, and the Government’s commitment is to generate around 35% of the nation’s electricity consumption from renewables by 2024, with a forecast 12 GW from wind power and 3 GW from photovoltaic energy.
QINOUS delivers an 800 kW battery system to an aboriginal community in Australia QINOUS, a manufacturer of smart energy storage solutions, has won an international tender process to supply the battery system for a Diesel-PV-Battery Hybrid project in an Aboriginal community in northern Australia. The 800 kW/1987 kWh lithium-ion battery system stores the excess solar energy and also provides grid-forming functions of the diesel generators, which so far were the single source of power of the Daly River community. Power and Water Corporation, the local energy provider, commissioned the construction of the hybrid system. ‘‘The operation of diesel generators is not only expensive for Power and Water, but is also a burden for the environment because of air pollution and spill risks. Our energy
storage solutions and the integration of renewable energies enable the cost effective transition of conventional power generation systems into hybrid systems. By temporarily storing excess energy as well as managing and stabilizing the grid, our system allows the diesel generators to be switched off completely during the day. This leads to an increase of renewable energies in hybrid systems, and ensures the supply of affordable and clean energy in the community,’’ says Steffen Heinrich, Technical Director at QINOUS. ‘‘We look forward realising the battery system together with QINOUS. Their tender was technically and commercially compelling and we are always looking for innovative solutions to provide power to our most remote residents,’’ says Dow
Airen, Senior Project Manager for the project at Power and Water. QINOUS was selected following an intensive examination of technical, qualitative and commercial criteria. Factory acceptance test of the battery system is planned in June, and the project is scheduled to go into operation in October 2016. The Diesel-PV-Battery Hybrid system by Power and Water is part of a comprehensive plan to transform the energy system of Indigenous communities in the Australia’s Northern Territory. Overall, around 30 communities will be equipped with the corresponding infrastructure for the integration of solar power. The project is jointly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Northern Territory Government.
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ACCIONA Energı´a awarded 168 MW of wind power capacity in Mexico
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News Digest Heliatek sets new organic photovoltaic world record efficiency of 13.2% Heliatek R&D teams have reached a record conversion efficiency of 13.2% for an OPV multi-junction cell, setting a new world record for the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity using organic photovoltaic cells. The company says that, thanks to the low light and high temperature behavior of the organic semiconductor, the electricity generation of the newly developed cells corresponds to the output of conventional solar cells with 16–17% efficiency when both are under real world conditions. Dr. Martin Pfeiffer, CTO of Heliatek, says: ‘‘We are very proud of this new world record. This success is based on our chemical research for new organic absorber materials. Key to this success is the close cooperation of our physics and chemistry R&D teams,
Heliatek’s record breaking Heliafilm solar film (Image courtesy of Heliatek).
which leads to an optimal combination of the properties of this new solar cell design.’’ ‘‘I am delighted by this latest result,’’ adds Thibaud Le Se´guillon, CEO of Heliatek. ‘‘It validates our choice to internalize our R&D, both by developing new absorber molecules
and optimizing the device architecture. This will provide the baseline for efficiency in our large-volume manufacturing line. With our HeliaFilm1, we are clearly executing our strategy to provide de-carbonized, de-centralized energy generation directly on buildings all over the world.’’ The world-record cell is a multi-junction cell combining three different absorbers. Each of them is dedicated to efficiently convert green-, red- or near-infrared light of the wavelength range between 450 and 950 nm into electricity. These absorber molecules have been developed and are patented by Heliatek. The new record efficiency was measured at simulated AM 1.5 illumination and was confirmed by the Fraunhofer – Center for Silizium-Photovoltaik – CSP.
In a first, Chinese firm tops annual ranking of wind turbine makers In 2015 a Chinese firm, for the first time, topped an annual ranking of onshore wind turbine manufacturers. Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology led Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s annual rankings with 7.8 GW of capacity commissioned, aided by a surging Chinese market that installed a record 28.7 GW last year. Virtually all Goldwind’s 2015 capacity was built in China, a market where, combined, foreign manufacturers accounted for less than 5% of market share. Denmark’s Vestas followed in second place with 7.3 GW commissioned, up 2.5 GW from 2014. The company pursued a global strategy, commissioning projects in
32 countries globally, 18 more than the next-highest competitor. GE fell from first place last year to third in 2015 with 5.9 GW, 700 MW more than it commissioned in 2014. GE is the largest turbine provider to the US market, which accounts for 62% of its global installations. ‘‘It’s hardly surprising that five Chinese manufacturers made the top ten ranking in a year where China contributed roughly half of the global capacity,’’ said Amy Grace, head of wind research for BNEF. ‘‘It is more surprising how dominant Goldwind was in its domestic market. The company commissioned more than two-and-a-half times the amount of capacity as the next largest Chinese manufacturer, Guodian.’’
In the onshore segment, which accounts for the vast bulk of the market, Germany’s Siemens tied for fourth place with Spain’s Gamesa as both companies installed 3.1 GW in 2015. Meanwhile, German firm Enercon fell to sixth place. Enercon continues to dominate its home market, which accounted for 48% of its turbines commissioned in 2015. Four Chinese manufacturers feature in the bottom half of the global top ten onshore ranking. Guodian fell to seventh place from sixth last year, Ming Yang and Envision tied for eighth place, and CSIC joins the list for the first time in tenth place with 2 GW of installed capacity.
1755-0084/ß 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2016.04.002
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The cow’s digestive system could revolutionise renewable energy, according to a group of researchers. A group of scientists are looking at the way relatively unknown fungi works inside the guts of herbivores, including elephants and cows, in the hope that it holds the key to revolutionising biomass technology. Professor Theodorou, leader of the Agricultural Centre of Sustainable Energy Systems (ACSES) at Harper Adams University, is among the group of scientists researching the potential benefits of these gut fungi. He said: ‘‘Renewable technologies are looking to use renewable plant biomass resources for chemical and fuel production, making us less reliant on fossil fuel.’’ Currently, a genetically-modified solution is being used in the biomass process, but this is costly due to needing an expensive pretreatment so that the plant biomass can be successfully digested. This is then followed by the fermentation of released sugars by yeast to produce products such as bio-ethanol. Professor Theodorou said ‘‘The objective of our work was to find an alternative, more
Anaerobic fungi (Image courtesy of Harper Adams University).
straight-forward platform, mimicking the conversion of plant biomass to useful products in nature.’’
‘‘In our work so far, we have identified hundreds of enzymes from the gut fungi, which have commercial biotechnology potential. It is because these fungi are able to survive in such a highly-competitive microbial ecosystem, where a myriad of protagonists seek to degrade plant biomass, that we believe they are so effective at their job.’’ ‘‘In the herbivores digestive system, these microorganisms convert plant biomass to sugars which are further processed as energy sources for the animal. Moreover, the gut fungi are able to achieve plant biomass conversion effectively and without the need for chemical pre-treatment.’’ ‘‘We have so far shown that some of these enzymes are substantially better than the current solution at converting plant biomass to sugars.’’ ‘‘We need to invest more resources to study this group of relatively unknown microorganisms. They may hold the key to the renewable technology of effective biomass conversion. Their full potential must be explored and exploited.’’
Korean energy storage project features largest lithium NMC system deployed for electricity grid frequency regulation In South Korea, battery company Kokam has deployed two lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) oxide energy storage systems (ESS) – rated at 24 MW/9 MWh and 16 MW/6 MWh – for frequency regulation on the national electricity grid. The company says that the 24 MW system is the world’s largest-capacity lithium NMC ESS used for frequency regulation. The two new Kokam systems have been operational since January 2016, along with a Kokam 16 MW/5 MWh lithium titanate oxide (LTO) energy storage system deployed in August 2015. They now provide South Korea’s largest utility, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), with 56 MW of energy storage capacity for frequency regulation. Together these three systems are part of the world’s largest ESS frequency regulation project, says the company, which is scheduled to have deployed 500 MW of battery-based energy storage when it is completed in 2017. In addition to improving grid reliability, the Kokam ESSs will enable KEPCO to improve its operational efficiency by
This Kokam 16 MW lithium NMC Energy Storage System (ESS), along with two other Kokam ESSs totaling 40 MW in capacity, are being deployed for frequency regulation with South Korea’s largest utility, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) (Image courtesy of Kokam Co. Ltd.).
reducing its need for spinning power generation reserves. This will allow KEPCO to shift energy generation to lower-cost, more efficient power plants, and reduce ‘wear and tear’ on all of its power plants. For example, these three Kokam energy storage systems will deliver estimated
annual savings of US$13 million in fuel costs, providing fuel cost savings three times higher than the ESS purchase price over the systems’ lifetimes. In addition, by reducing the amount of fossil fuels burnt for frequency regulation, the ESSs will help reduce KEPCO’s greenhouse gas emissions. ‘Our energy storage systems provide KEPCO with the performance it needs to precisely and cost-effectively regulate frequency on the South Korean grid, helping it ensure the stability of this grid, improve its operational efficiency, and lower its greenhouse gas emissions,’ says Ike Hong, Vice President of Kokam’s Power Solutions Division. ‘Kokam’s 56 MW of energy storage systems are making a major contribution to the stabilisation of our grid,’ adds Dr. Hwang Woohyun, Senior Vice President and Head of the Innovative Energy Business Division at KEPCO. ‘We hope to continue to cooperate with Kokam to develop energy storage projects that improve grid reliability, lower our operational costs, and reduce our environmental impact.’ 85
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The new 24 MW and 16 MW lithium NMC ESSs utilise Kokam’s innovative ultra high power NMC battery technology. This is designed for high-power energy storage applications, such as frequency regulation, wind or large solar power system ramp rate control, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), and voltage support. Kokam’s ultra high power NMC battery technology offers higher energy density,
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which enables 2.4 MWh of energy storage to be installed in a 40 ft (12 m) container, compared to 1–1.5 MWh of energy storage for standard NMC batteries. In addition, the ultra high power NMC batteries can last up to 10,000 cycles, compared to 3000–5000 cycles for standard NMC technologies, increasing an energy storage system’s expected life. Kokam says that its ultra high power NMC battery technology has charge, discharge,
and maximum power rates of 4 C, 8 C and 15 C, respectively, compared to 2 C, 3 C and 4 C for competitors, which enables systems to receive and dispatch more power when needed. And with a heat dissipation rate that is claimed to be 1.6 times better than standard NMC technologies, the ultra high power NMC batteries can be used at a higher rate for longer periods of time with no degradation in battery life or performance.
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2015 sees solar in Europe increase by 15% In 2015, solar grew by 15% in Europe connecting 8 GW of solar power to the grid, reports SolarPower Europe. Global grid-connected solar increased by 25% to an estimated 50.1 GW in 2015, from 40.2 GW in 2014. ‘‘2015 was an extremely successful year for solar and after 3 consecutive years of decline in Europe it is especially encouraging to see the sector grow again’’ says Oliver Schafer, President of SolarPower Europe. The base for Europe’s solar power demand in 2015 derived from mainly 3 countries – UK, Germany and France. These top 3 markets counted for 75% of the connections, equal to 5.3 GW. In 2014 their share was also 75%, but equal to 6 GW. For the second
year in a row, the UK took first place with an estimated 3.7 GW. With nearly 100 GW of installed capacity, Europe is still the most solarised continent. No other region can boast solar shares as high as Europe – on average nearly 4% of electricity consumption and in its most mature markets, such as Germany, Greece and Italy, around 8%. ‘‘The challenge is now to quickly master the transition phase – from European solar markets that grew on very high premium feed-in tariff incentives, to new marketbased frameworks, where prosumers use solar power for self-consumption in residential, commercial and industrial sectors. We must now create a smart
market design that builds on the strengths of the solar power technology to be able to profit from the low cost solar has achieved,’’ says James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe. On a global level, new solar power capacity increased by 25%, adding 50 GW in 2015. An estimate 228 GW of solar power are now installed in the world, up from 178 GW in 2014. The two biggest markets are again located in Asia – China and Japan, the US ranked third. China not only added more than twice as much solar as Europe, it also exceeded 40 GW of total installed capacity, taking over as the number one country from long-time leader Germany.
Cumulative global installed PV to reach 310 GW by end of 2016 By the end of 2016, cumulative global installed photovoltaic (PV) installations will surpass 310 gigawatts (GW), compared to just 40 GW at the end of 2010, according to IHS. Five countries account for 70% of this capacity; China, the United States, Japan, Germany and Italy. With annual installations stalling, IHS claims that Germany will fall from the second-largest installed base for PV to the fourth largest, surpassed by the United States and Japan. ‘‘A continued stagnation of major European PV markets due to weaker financial incentives has caused PV additions in Europe to slow dramatically in recent years, but global demand remains strong,’’ said Josefin Berg, senior analyst of solar demand for IHS Technology. ‘‘The supply chain continues to benefit from a period of relatively stable pricing, and there could be a new wave of capacity expansions.’’ During the last months of 2015, the global PV industry continued to enjoy strong 86
Cumulative global installed PV installations will surpass 310 GW in 2016 (Image courtesy of Shutterstock).
growth. While some regional markets present challenges to local suppliers, the current outlook from IHS for the global industry in 2016 remains positive. After growing 35% in 2015, global PV installations are forecast to grow an additional 17% in 2016, culminating in 21 GW of PV to be installed worldwide in the fourth quarter.
Research from IHS shows that global PV installed capacity is expected to increase by 69 GW throughout 2016, compared to 59 GW of annual installations in 2015. The U.S., India and China are anticipated to grow by 5.6 GW, 2.7 GW and 0.9 GW, respectively, in total accounting for 9.3 GW of the 10 GW increase. Continued strong solar PV demand will also support stable module pricing, according to the company. Average PV module prices are expected to fall less than 5% in 2016, which is the smallest year-over-year decline recorded by IHS. Ultimately, 2015 was a positive year for the PV module manufacturing industry, with industry average gross margins reaching 22%. As a result of declines in polysilicon prices and strong pricing in some markets, total gross profit from modules reached $8.5 billion in 2015, which is the highest level since 2011.
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Driven by large and widespread feedstocks and government incentives, Southeast Asia is positioned to be a hub for bio-based materials and chemicals (BBMC), according to a report released by Lux Research. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand – the three largest producers of palm oil – are parlaying their natural strengths into the emerging BBMC space, says Lux Research. Malaysia is focusing on new oleochemicals while Thailand is focusing on bioplastics; Indonesia has ample feedstock but presents more challenges due to a lack of government support for bio-based chemicals. ‘‘Historically, most of the venture capital investment in BBMC has gone to start-ups based in North America and Europe,’’ said Julia Allen, Lux Research Analyst and an author of the report titled, Assessing the Bio-based Chemicals Landscape in
Southeast Asia, which is part of the Lux Research Bio-based Materials and Chemicals Intelligence and the Coatings Intelligence services. ‘‘Firms such as Altranex, for example, could develop supply chains in this region to tap into locally available feedstocks, like fat-rich waste effluents,’’ she added. Lux Research analysts evaluated growth of the BBMC industry in Southeast Asia and the opportunities it presents to global investors. Among their findings:
Malaysia’s palm oil boosts the potential for new oleochemical technologies. Malaysia, the world’s second largest producer of palm oil, is best suited to produce new oleochemicals. Foreign companies such as Verdezyne and Biosynthetic Technologies have received
investments from local conglomerate Sime Darby. Thailand aims to be an ideal site for bioplastics. Thailand enjoys numerous advantages in bioplastic manufacturing. It has ample sugarcane – 100 million MT in 2013 – and enjoys supportive policies. Foreign players here include NatureWorks and Corbion Purac. Elevance is the sole commercial biobased chemical player in Indonesia. Indonesia’s lack of government support and suboptimal infrastructure make the world’s largest producer of palm oil – 33 million MT in 2014 – a less attractive geography. Elevance does have a 180,000 MT oleochemical facility and the potential to double capacity, but has delayed scale-up plans.
AWEA releases key data on 2015 U.S wind generation The AWEA has released findings as part of its 2015 U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report that demonstrate the benefits of wind power generation in the US beyond its economic advantages. U.S. wind farms now pay $222 million dollars a year to farming families and other rural landowners, according to new data released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), with more than $156 million dollars going to landowners in counties with below average incomes. Wind energy generation saves approximately 226 gallons of water for every American each year according to the new data released by AWEA, creating another benefit for rural livelihoods that depend on significant use of freshwater to raise livestock or grow crops. ‘‘The rapid growth of wind energy largely benefits rural communities, including some of the most economically distressed parts of the U.S.,’’ said Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA. ‘‘Wind farms pay $222 million dollars a year to U.S. farmers, ranchers and other rural landowners, helping them to make ends meet, send their kids to college, or even keep that 100-year old ranch in the family. By continuing to grow this locally-made, drought-resistant cash crop, wind power can unleash even greater economic and water-saving benefits for these communities.’’
191 million megawatt-hours of wind power was generated in the U.S in 2015 (Image courtesy of Shutterstock).
The overwhelming majority of U.S. wind farms today operate in rural areas, according to AWEA. Landowners in six states currently receive over $10 million dollars a year in lease payments, with Texas ranked number one, followed by Iowa, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Kansas. Landowners in 26 different states receive over $1 million dollars each year. ‘‘The wind farm allowed us to be able to keep our family farm,’’ said Jason Wilson from Calhan, Colorado. ‘‘We had come to a point where it no longer made financial sense to keep the property even with its vast sentimental value. The wind farm balanced the financial viability with the sentimental value, allowing the family farm to continue to be passed on to the next generation.’’
Approximately 70% of rural wind farms in the U.S. are located in low-income counties, meaning that the median household incomes fall below the U.S. median household income. This share of wind development in rural areas represents more than $101 billion in wind farm investment. ‘‘To me wind energy means that this farm land will pretty much stay in our hands,’’ said Keith Mueggenborg, an Oklahoma landowner. Wind farms also pay taxes that contribute new revenue to local communities, benefiting schools, county and local services, libraries, hospitals, and public safety facilities. For example, Oklahoma wind farms return over a $1 billion dollars in property taxes to counties and local schools over their life according to an Oklahoma State Chamber report in 2015. In Ohio, a single wind farm is the largest taxpayer in one county and local school officials report the wind farm adds $400,000 a year in new revenue, even helping to supply over 900 new computers for students. Beyond wind’s economic benefits, the production of clean wind energy significantly conserves water resources that would otherwise be used to cool thermal power plants. America’s world-class wind energy production creates greater access to 87
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freshwater resources, another benefit to rural farmers and ranchers – especially for those living in areas of the U.S. most susceptible to drought. The AWEA findings shows that the 191 million megawatt-hours of wind generation in 2015, enough electricity for about 17.5 million American homes, led to nearly 73 billion gallons of water saved (about 553 billion bottles of water). Iowa produced 31% of its electricity from wind last year, and a total of 12 states generated 10% or more. Oregon recently joined California, Hawaii, and Vermont as part of a growing list of states choosing to implement
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renewable portfolio standards (RPS) requiring 50% or more of their electricity to come from renewable energy. Pending legislation in New York could add the Empire State as the fifth member of this group. ‘‘States with the best policies will continue to attract the new investment in this locally-made, drought-resistant cash crop, further benefiting their state economies,’’ said Kiernan. States have chosen to expand RPS policies because they help to diversify the electricity mix and deliver substantial consumer savings. Meeting these RPS targets is achievable without sacrificing reliability or raising costs.
Wind power costs two-thirds of what it did six years ago, says the AWEA, and in some parts of the U.S. wind power is the lowest-cost option for generating electricity. Those savings are being passed onto American families and businesses. Consumers in the 10 states with the most renewable energy pay less on their electric bills than the 10 states with the least amount of renewables. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE), by 2030 $650 million will be payable to landowners each year. and wind energy could help conserve 260 billion gallons of water each year.
Jenny Hogan, Director of Policy for Scottish Renewables said: ‘‘This is another important milestone for our industry and shows renewables are now a mainstream part of our power sector. ‘‘There is still a huge amount of potential for future growth, if the industry is given the right backing by government.’’ Ms. Hogan warned that there is doubt over how achievable the next target set for the industry is. She said: ‘‘Despite having enough projects in the pipeline, recent changes to gov-
ernment support, and hold ups in the consenting process for offshore wind farms, have set us on a path to fall short of the 2020 target.’’ The figures from DECC also show that output from renewable energy sources in Scotland grew by 15% from 2014 which has been largely due to an increase in onshore wind, hydro and solar generation. These approximate statistics will be confirmed once the consumption figure of electricity in 2015 is made available later this year.
Scotland beats renewables target Figures show Scotland generated the equivalent of more than half its electricity needs from renewable sources in 2015, surpassing the 50% target set by Ministers. Based on the latest consumption figures from 2014, renewables now generate the equivalent of 57% of Scotland’s power needs. The new statistic, published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, means Scotland is now more than halfway towards its target of producing the equivalent of 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Clean Energy Council to improve quality and performance of solar panels in Australia The Clean Energy Council has introduced new initiatives that they believe will substantially lift the bar on the quality of solar power products sold in Australia. The Council’s Chief Executive Kane Thornton said the changes were the latest in a series of proactive steps by the industry to ensure the absolute highest standards for people buying solar power systems. ‘‘Solar panels and inverters already need to be independently tested and demonstrate their compliance with Australian Standards before they can be sold here, which is an appropriate protection for consumers,’’ Mr. Thornton said. ‘‘These products are then included on lists of approved solar power modules and inverters, which are available from the Clean Energy Council’s Solar Accreditation website.
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Rooftop solar panels in Sydney, Australia (Image courtesy of Shutterstock).
‘‘An independent testing program is being introduced for solar panels and inverters to ensure that the actual performance of products being sold in Australia live up to their marketing claims. Products that are not up to standard will be removed from
the Clean Energy Council lists of approved products. ‘‘Likewise, products can now be de-listed if suppliers breach consumer law – such as a failure to honour warranties – effectively removing their eligibility for government incentives. ‘‘These changes will improve overall product quality in the solar industry by making sure customers get what they pay for when buying panels and inverters, and by penalising companies that do the wrong thing. Protecting consumers is our highest priority.’’ Mr. Thornton said the introduction of other initiatives by the Clean Energy Council, such as the Solar Retailer Code of Conduct and the continuous professional development program for solar installers, were also helping to progressively improve standards across the industry.
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ACCIONA Energı´a has been awarded the supply of 585.7 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity in the first long-term power auction in the wholesale electric power market organized by the National Energy Control Center (CENACE) of Mexico. This will be materialized in a 168 megawatt (MW) wind farm in the State of Tamaulipas that will enter service in 2018. ACCIONA Energı´a currently owns and operates 556.5 MW in Mexico, with four wind farms in Oaxaca that account for around 20% of the operational wind power capacity in the country, and has built another 303 MW for customers. The result of the latest auction strengthens the company’s presence in Mexico as one of the main players in the country’s renewables market. The El Cortijo wind power project, whose production was awarded together with the corresponding Clean Energy Certificates (CEL), will be located 40 km south of the
ACCIONA Energia continues to strengthen its presence in Mexico (Image courtesy of Acciona Energia).
city of Reynosa. It will consist of fifty-six 3 MW ACCIONA Windpower turbines that will generate electricity equivalent to the consumption of around 350,000 homes in the area, avoiding the emission of more than 563,000 metric tons of CO2 to the atmosphere from conventional coal-fired power stations.
Construction work is planned to start in 2017, with the wind farm being operational by mid-2018. The energy produced will be supplied to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) under a long-term contract of15 years, according to the company. This first auction, in which 227 bids were received from 69 tenderers, awarded a total of 5385.72 GWh to 11 bids from 7 tenderers. It is part of an initiative by the Mexican authorities to integrate renewable energies into the country’s electric power system following an Energy Reform in 2013. Between 2015 and 2018 the Mexican government plans to incorporate 6 GW of renewable origin with an estimated investment of 14 billion US dollars, and the Government’s commitment is to generate around 35% of the nation’s electricity consumption from renewables by 2024, with a forecast 12 GW from wind power and 3 GW from photovoltaic energy.
QINOUS delivers an 800 kW battery system to an aboriginal community in Australia QINOUS, a manufacturer of smart energy storage solutions, has won an international tender process to supply the battery system for a Diesel-PV-Battery Hybrid project in an Aboriginal community in northern Australia. The 800 kW/1987 kWh lithium-ion battery system stores the excess solar energy and also provides grid-forming functions of the diesel generators, which so far were the single source of power of the Daly River community. Power and Water Corporation, the local energy provider, commissioned the construction of the hybrid system. ‘‘The operation of diesel generators is not only expensive for Power and Water, but is also a burden for the environment because of air pollution and spill risks. Our energy
storage solutions and the integration of renewable energies enable the cost effective transition of conventional power generation systems into hybrid systems. By temporarily storing excess energy as well as managing and stabilizing the grid, our system allows the diesel generators to be switched off completely during the day. This leads to an increase of renewable energies in hybrid systems, and ensures the supply of affordable and clean energy in the community,’’ says Steffen Heinrich, Technical Director at QINOUS. ‘‘We look forward realising the battery system together with QINOUS. Their tender was technically and commercially compelling and we are always looking for innovative solutions to provide power to our most remote residents,’’ says Dow
Airen, Senior Project Manager for the project at Power and Water. QINOUS was selected following an intensive examination of technical, qualitative and commercial criteria. Factory acceptance test of the battery system is planned in June, and the project is scheduled to go into operation in October 2016. The Diesel-PV-Battery Hybrid system by Power and Water is part of a comprehensive plan to transform the energy system of Indigenous communities in the Australia’s Northern Territory. Overall, around 30 communities will be equipped with the corresponding infrastructure for the integration of solar power. The project is jointly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Northern Territory Government.
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ACCIONA Energı´a awarded 168 MW of wind power capacity in Mexico