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SummaryThe world's first full-size interdigitated back contact (IBC) bifacial solar module has been developed and fabricated in Singapore by the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in collaboration with the International Solar Energy Research Center Konstanz, Germany (ISC Konstanz). About IBC Solar Cell ModuleThe module technology's first prototype was produced using bifacial ZEBRA IBC solar cells from ISC Konstanz with efficiencies as high as 22%. The cells (battery) were fabricated using industrially proven process equipment and standard industrial 6-inch n-type Cz monocrystalline silicon wafers. The module's structural reliability is ensured by using a double-glass insulation technique perfected by SERIS since 2009. Encapsulated using the double-glass structure, IBC bifacial solar modules could offer a longer warranty period of 30 years or more. Furthermore, by utilising the bifacial nature of the solar cells, as much as 30% extra power is generated by the double-glass module due to reflection of sunlight from the ground ('albedo') towards the module's rear surface.  Dr Wang Yan, Director of SERIS' PV Module Cluster, is ecstatic about this new product. "With SERIS' new module design, panels with 350 Watts front-side power can be made with sixty 23% efficient screen-printed IBC cells. Considering an additional 20% of power via the panel's transparent rear surface, each 60-cell IBC bifacial module will produce a stunning 400 Watts of power in the real world." IBC Bifacial Module FeaturesAll back contact: This eliminates metal shading losses from the cells' front surface. As a result, the module can achieve higher current and efficiency outputs.Bifacial nature: The module is able to absorb light from both its front and rear surface, with a bifaciality of 75%. This enables the module to convert sunlight that enters via its rear surface, as a result of reflection from the ground and the surroundings.Double-glass structure: The cells are encapsulated between two glass panes using polyolefin elastomer (POE), which guarantees a long module lifetime in the field.Low-temperature interconnections: This prevents warping of the IBC cells due to heating.Specially designed & customized electrical junction box: This prevents shading of the rear surface of the bifacial IBC cells.Industrially feasible solar cell and module fabrication process and equipment: This enables the module to achieve high efficiency at lower cost and means that the technology is ready for industrial production Different view about IBC Bifacial ModuleDr Radovan Kopecek, founder of ISC Konstanz, Director of Advanced Solar Cells and Lead Scientist for ZEBRA development since 2009, has ambitious future plans for this technology: "Many people now might think that putting highly efficient IBC cells into bifacial modules does not make sense - but our consortium will prove them wrong. The ZEBRA process is extremely simple and cost-effective and so is the module manufacturing process. In large bifacial systems, this technology will lead to the lowest LCOEs ever. Bifaciality is quickly gaining popularity and, since a few weeks ago, one can also simulate the bifacial advantage using PVsyst - such developments will give many bifacial technologies the breakthrough in the PV systems arena".  Prof Armin Aberle, SERIS CEO, is also enthusiastic about the development. "IBC cells are famous for their efficiency, reliability and durability in the field. The newly developed IBC bifacial module is a testimony of SERIS' R&D capabilities in the PV module technology sector. The module technology offers world-class front side power while providing free extra power from the rear side. As a result, it has excellent LCOE potential" he explained. "The prototype module made at SERIS serves as a proof of concept for mass production. The next step will be to transfer the technology to industrial partners." He believes that such a high-power product could be available in the market within two years. The world's first full-size IBC bifacial module fabricated by SERIS displayed at the booths of SERIS' industry collaborators Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG (booth #360, E3) and SPIC Xi'an Solar Power (booth #330, W1) at the SNEC (2017) International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference & Exhibition (SNEC PV POWER EXPO), Shanghai, China, from 19 to 21 April 2017. At the same time. Dr. Wang Yan reported on the IBC bifacial module design at the SNEC conference during his talk on 19th April at the Pudong Ballroom . Article provided by National University of SingaporeArticle edited by kynix 

SummaryIn the development of advanced lithium-ion battery,improving one property without sacrificing others is challenging due to the trade-off nature among the key parameters. In a recent paper in Nature Communications, a research team from the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology reported a chemical vapor deposition process to grow a graphene-silica 3D assembly, called a graphene-ball to provide both fast charging and high volumetric energy densities in Li-ion batteries.  About GrapheneIts hierarchical 3D structure with the SiOx nanoparticle center allows even 1 wt％ graphene-ball to be uniformly coated onto a nickel-rich layered cathode (LiNi0.6Co0.1Mn0.3O2) via mild Nobilta milling. The graphene-ball coating improves cycle life and fast charging capability by protecting the electrode surface from detrimental side reactions and providing efficient conductive pathways. The graphene-ball itself also serves as an anode material with high specific capacity of 716.2 mAh g-1. A full-cell incorporating graphene-balls increases the volumetric energy density by 27.6％ compared to a control cell without graphene-balls, showing the possibility of achieving 800 Wh L-1 in a commercial cell setting, along with a high cyclability of 78.6％ retention of the initial capacity after 500 cycles at 5C and 60 degrees C. Graphene growth from SiO2 nanoparticles. a-c TEM characterization a before CVD growth, b after 5 min growth, and c after 30 min growth (scale bars, 50 nm). d-f Their respective magnified images (scale bars, 10 nm). g Higher magnification image of graphene after 30 min growth and its atom-level view from the white box (inset) (scale bar, 2 nm). h Graphical illustration of popcorn-like graphene growth from SiO2 nanoparticles. A Boom in the Creation of New DevicesRecent innovations in materials science such as the development of graphene balls for Li-ion batteries have led to a boom in the creation of new devices, allowing for a rapid shift from analog to digital in a relatively short amount of time.In the past, materials were researched, developed and perfected long before they were applied to devices. Take liquid crystals, for example. They were first discovered in the late 1800s, and for decades were studied and defined in the academic realm. It wasn't until the 1960s―almost a century later―that they were utilized in commercial products. Similarly, it took 30 years after its invention for lithium metal oxide to even be tested in batteries, and another decade before it made its official commercial market introduction. Once materials such as these were introduced, however, they allowed for a steady and fairly rapid increase in device performance. In the display industry specifically, there has been enormous growth in the market because of such advancements up until now.However, as the market becomes increasingly saturated, electronic materials innovations are beginning to fall behind the device revolution. This is mostly due to the fact that the device product life cycle is becoming much faster than that of the material. Now, the device itself is facing the limitations of this revolution in terms of product performance and functionality without the aid of novel materials. Research on Materials and DevicesIt's reported at the  the plenary session led by Dr. Hyuk Chang, Executive Vice President , Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), at the 9th International Conference on Quantum Dots held that to ensure consistent advancements and optimum functionality, both materials and devices have to be synchronized throughout the development process from the earliest stages of research so that performance requirements can be properly understood. The following picture is about the speeds of material and device innovation have changed over time. SAIT now aims to synchronize the two. Chang noted that the synchronization of materials research and device development can accelerate the enhancement of both the devices and the materials that they are made of, thus revitalizing the market."After all, innovation comes in many forms, and source technology is a foundational one," Chang said. At Samsung, there are numerous organizations that carry out research and development. These include SAIT, where the company pioneers long-term, radical researches with five to ten year or more horizons; the R&D centers that explore next-generation products and platform technologies one to three years in advance; and business unit development teams that focus on commercialization, applying these latest technologies in product development.Samsung is increasingly synchronizing its R&D efforts to bring core technologies like new materials to products more quickly.Take an example,the quantum dot technology.Confident that this specific technology could ultimately drive the future of display, among other areas, Samsung has researched the material and its advantages in earnest. In fact, researchers at SAIT started focusing on quantum dot technology over a decade ago, and have since registered numerous patents on the subject. The following picture is about a synchronized research roadmap Through constant testing, evaluating and verifying the material from the earliest stages of device design, Samsung was able to incorporate quantum dots to create a revolutionary line-up of products―its 2015 SUHD TVs. n doing so, the technology allowed for highly accurate color expression and better, brighter picture quality while improving overall energy efficiency at a lower cost―all with cadmium-free quantum dots. Considering that this was the first commercial application of the material, it created quite a buzz among academics in the field who had been eagerly anticipating such a milestone. Despite these accomplishments, Samsung wanted to improve upon this technology and did so with its 2016 SUHD TVs, making them even more energy-efficient, and allowing them to display the picture quality more accurately. "As a materials scientist, my previous work was in small-scale labs," Chang explained. "It was overwhelming to see this technology make its way to mass production and even hit center stage at the industry's top events like CES in just a decade. That's the speed and scale of Samsung."As Samsung continues to research and refine the technology, the company predicts that quantum dots will further enhance display devices.Chang noted that quantum dots could be applied in other ways, too, such as to improve the accuracy of image sensors, which could significantly advance autonomous cars. Experts note that the technology also has great potential in the areas of chemo- and bio-sensing. In fact, researchers at SAIT have already begun to utilize quantum dot technology in these areas, and are eager to continue to progress these developments. "Just as Samsung's SUHD TVs were realized by evolutionary quantum dot materials and boundless research for discovering novel physical phenomena, functional materials, value-added materials and next-generation devices must be closely interconnected," Chang stated. This, he believes, will accelerate materials innovations, leading to new functionalities in devices and the creation of novel devices. The synchronization of materials research and device development will also help to breathe new life into the massive global materials marketplace. By consistently providing added value with new materials, Samsung hopes to continue to revitalize the electronic devices industry. Article resources:Samsung Advanced Institute of TechnologyArticle edited: kynix 

SummaryWe know that empty batteries are easy to recognize.However,it is much more complicated to know the charge status between full and empty.A complete new approach with ultrasound pluses offers a precise and simple method. Batteries are used in many "mobile" technologies,and that is why it is the snag in "mobile" technologies. Like smartphones,drones,or electric cars-in many cases he time between battery charges is much too short for many people. This is why it is important to determine the exact state of charge. But this is more complicated than you would imagine. Currently, battery management systems (BMS) carry out the necessary measurements. They calculate the state of charge for each cell based on the parameters current and voltage.  However, since the calculations are partly based on standard values, they reflect the current state only approximately. In particular, this is very inaccurate in case of frequent partial charges. The battery management systems also consume some of the energy that was actually to be used for the next song or mile. About the aboving picture:Sensors with 1 cm and 2 cm diameter to measure the state of charge of the battery Battery Management with UltrasoudIn the future this will be more reliable, more energy saving and cheaper with sensor systems that are being developed in the SoCUS project at the Fraunhofer ISC. They measure the density of the negative anode with the help of ultrasound pulses. This changes as the state of charge of the cell changes.The method has several advantages: there is a direct linear connection between the state of charge and the measurement signal. This makes the evaluation simpler and more precise than with the technologies currently in use.The new battery sensors can be easily integrated into existing systems.One evaluation unit can monitor several battery cells simultaneously and measures the state of charge only during charging and discharging. The fact that this system does not check the charge continuously saves energy and, consequently, costs.Since the ultrasound signal correlates directly with the mechanical properties of the cell, all aging processes are taken into account better. This allows more accurate statements to be made about the current remaining capacity and, hence, the performance.  About the above picture: Principle of the state-of-charge estimation by ultrasonic pulsed excitations: A RCN-pulse transmitted through the cell gives rise to two wave packets (wave I and II), where the slower (wave II) ones' amplitude shows a linear relationship on the state-of-charge. For optimized signal strength of-the-shelf piezo transducers are attached centered on opposite sides of commercial pouch-type cells. Battery Management with All TypesThe new measuring method is suitable for almost all types of battery. However, to date only lithium ion batteries have been tested. In particular, electric vehicles should benefit from reliable recording of the battery charge status. After all, the distance covered between charges is the key factor for further development. But reliable monitoring of the state of charge is also important for drones that monitor industrial plants and wind parks or that manage agricultural land. The ultrasound method could be especially profitable for stationary storage systems with a large number of connected battery cells. A sensor that works only when required and records the state of charge of several cells simultaneously can save energy and also costs. In this application, flame retardant battery types are often used where the state of charge cannot be determined accurately with current methods. The new method could extend existing measurement methods of battery management systems in the future, especially also in electric mobility with a reliable, energy-saving, inexpensive variant. 

SummaryIron-air batteries promise a considerably higher energy density than present-day lithium-ion batteries. In addition, their main constituent -- iron -- is an abundant and therefore cheap material. Scientists from Forschungszentrum Jülich are among the driving forces in the renewed research into this concept, which was discovered in the 1970s. Together with American Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), they successfully observed with nanometre precision how deposits form at the iron electrode during operation. A deeper understanding of the charging and discharging reactions is viewed as the key for the further development of this type of battery rechargeable to market maturity. The results were published in the journal Nano Energy--Charging and discharging reactions during operation shown with nanometer precision.  BodyFor reasons including insurmoutable technical difficulties,research into metal-air batteries was abandoned in the 1980s for a long time.The past few years, however, have seen a rapid increase in research interest. Iron-air batteries draw their energy from a reaction of iron with oxygen. In this process, the iron oxidizes almost exactly as it would during the rusting process. The oxygen required for the reaction can be drawn from the surrounding air so that it does not need to be stored in the battery. These material savings are the reason for the high energy densities achieved by metal-air batteries. Iron-air batteries are predicted to have theoretical energy densities of more than 1,200 Wh/kg. By comparison, present-day lithium-ion batteries come in at about 600 Wh/kg, and even less (350 Wh/kg) if the weight of the cell casing is taken into account. Lithium-air batteries, which are technically considerably more difficult and complicated to realize, can have energy densities of up to 11,400 Wh/kg. When it comes to volumetric energy density, iron-air batteries perform even better: at 9,700 Wh/l, it is almost five times as high as that of today's lithium-ion batteries (2,000 Wh/l). Even lithium-air batteries have "only" 6,000 Wh/l. Iron-air batteries are thus particularly interesting for a multitude of mobile applications in which space requirements play a large role. "We consciously concentrate on research into battery types made of materials that are abundant in the Earth's crust and produced in large quantities," explains institute head Prof. Rüdiger-A. Eichel. "Supply shortages are thus not to be expected. The concept is also associated with a cost advantage, which can be directly applied to the battery, particularly for large-scale applications such as stationary devices for the stabilization of the electricity grid or electromobility." What Cause These Difficulties?The insights obtained by the Jülich researchers create a new basis for improving the properties of the battery in a targeted manner. Using in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopes at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they were able to observe how deposits of iron hydroxide particles (Fe(OH)2) form at the iron electrode under conditions similar to those prevalent during charging and discharging. "The high pH of 13.7 alone represents a borderline condition for the instrument," explains Henning Weinrich from Jülich's Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-9). "We were the first at Oak Ridge to successfully conduct such an experiment under realistic conditions," says Weinrich, who stayed in the USA for three months especially for the measurements. Capacity IncreasingWe should notice that deposits do not decrease the power of the battery.On the contrary, since the nanoporous layer increases the active surface area of the electrode, it contributes to a small increase in capacity after each charging and discharging cycle. Thanks to the investigations, the researchers have for the first time obtained a complete picture of this layer growth. "It was previously assumed that the deposition is reversed during charging. But this is obviously not the case," explains Dr. Hermann Tempel from Jülich's Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-9). Furthermore, a direct link was verified for the first time between the layer formation at the electrode surface and the electrochemical reactions. There is, however, still a long way to go until market maturity. Although isolated electrodes made of iron can be operated without major power losses for several thousand cycles in laboratory experiments, complete iron-air batteries, which use an air electrode as the opposite pole, have only lasted 20 to 30 cycles so far. 

SummaryThe invention of electril trucks has bring a lot of benefit for human being. An electric truck is a truck powered by electricity. For information on trucks using a combination of internal combustion engines and electric propulsion, see Hybrid electric truck. Now they are having a moment in the spotlight,however,they still have a long haul cause the costs and other limitations.  Tesla Inc. plans to unveil a semi tractor-trailer this week, its first foray into trucking after more than a decade of making cars and SUVs. German automaker Daimler AG showed off its own electric semi last month and says it could be on sale in a few years. Truck rental company Ryder just added 125 all-electric vans made by California startup Chanje to its fleet. "It's kind of like the checkered flag is being waved," said Glen Kedzie, energy and environmental counsel with the American Trucking Associations. "We've seen different fuels come and go, and electric has gotten to the front of the line." According to the data of Navigant Research, global sales of pure electric trucks are expected to grow exponentially from 4,100 in 2016 to 70,600 in 2026 as battery costs fall and more options enter the market.elivery companies, mail services and utilities will be among the biggest purchasers, and most of the growth will come from Europe, China and the U.S. Most electric trucks on the road will be medium-duty vehicles like delivery vans or garbage trucks. They're quiet and emission-free, and they can be plugged in and charged at the end of a shift. They're ideal for predictable urban routes of 100 miles or less; a longer range than that requires more batteries, which are heavy and expensive. Battery Costs IssueHowever,it's cost that cause a big issue. A medium-duty electric truck costs about $70,000 more than equivalent diesel trucks, according to the consulting firm Deloitte. Buyers considering electrics have to weigh what they can save on fuel and maintenance costs, since electrics have fewer parts.Heavy-duty trucks like electric semis have even further to go before they can be competitive with diesels. Some of those trucks are used for shorter routes, but to achieve a longer range of 300 miles, they require more batteries.  Expensive EletrificationDeloitte estimates electrification adds around $150,000 to the cost of a heavy-duty vehicle, or more than double the cost of some diesel tractor-trailers. Electric semi trucks will have the added problem of long charging times and little highway charging infrastructure."I see it being relevant but not ready for prime time," Chanje CEO Bryan Hansel said of long-haul electric trucks. He thinks it will be five years or more before the battery technology and infrastructure can support cross-country electric trucking. "It's a big prize, but the physics haven't caught up yet," he said. Different ThinkingOther analysts,however,believe that this situation will change. Battery costs are expected to fall significantly over the next decade as technology improves. Deloitte expects battery costs for trucks to fall from $260 per kilowatt-hour in 2016 to $122 in 2026. That would cut the cost of a 300 kWh battery pack—like the one in Daimler's prototype semi —from $78,000 to $36,600. At the same time,regulations will drive interest in electric trucks. In the U.S., trucks must meet stricter emissions standards through 2027 under rules that went into effect last year. China is also tightening emissions standards. And several major cities, including Paris and Mexico City, have called for a ban on diesels by 2025 to improve air quality. Incentives are also enticing companies to add electric trucks to their fleets. Companies that buy or lease vans from Chanje are eligible for an $80,000 voucher per vehicle from the state of California, for example. France pays out 10,000 euros ($11,669) to buyers who replace diesel vehicles with electric ones.  Companies' GoalsCompanies are also experimenting with electrics—and other alternatives, like natural gas—because they want to meet their own sustainability goals and figure out the optimal mix for their fleets. United Parcel Service, for example, has 300 electric trucks in its global fleet of 100,000 vehicles, mostly in the U.S. and Europe, said Scott Phillippi, UPS's Senior Director of Maintenance and Engineering for international operations. Many of UPS's delivery routes require trucks to travel less than 100 miles per day, a range easily met by an electric truck, Phillippi said. He said electric trucks also help the company take advantage of incentives. UPS has set a goal of having 25 percent of its fleet be made up of alternative fuel vehicles by 2020, in part to encourage manufacturers to keep building and improving such trucks. "The proof of concept time is over," he said. "Everybody is starting to agree it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when." 

SummaryIncreasing demand for energy and power encourages companies operating in energy and power industry to adopt solutions that can help them enhance production output with minimum errors and reduced down-time on a global scale. The products are offered specifically for the energy sector to enhance operations in the energy data management area. Industry 4.0 solutions help power plant owners, operators, and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the power industry make improved business decisions based on performance and operational readiness of their plant equipment.According to the MarketsandMarkets forecast, the Industry 4.0 market in energy and power was valued at $1.30m in 2016 and is expected to reach $3.22bn by 2022, at a CAGR of 16.33% between 2017 and 2022. IoT and Power IndustryIndustry 4.0 is being led by IoT and it plays an important role in condition monitoring and predictive and proscriptive maintenance of assets.Plant operators need to monitor and control the plant more efficiently, and for doing so, the adoption of advanced technologies such as HMI is increasing significantly in the energy and power industry. IoT provides flexibility to accommodate new energy sources, better management of assets and operations, greater reliability and enhanced security.  Big Data to Transform Power IndustryThe energy and power industry has recognised the benefits of big data as it plays a vital role in solving business problems in utility companies.In this vertical, the big data solutions are gaining traction in various processes such as seismic data analysis, smart grid analytics, and data analysis related to production, testing, logging, and many other operations. Each year, smart grids and smart meters generate hundreds of terabytes of data, which include unstructured and semi-structured data. Companies in the energy and power industry have analysed this huge amount of data to get real time access to the situation. Being largely customer-centric, the energy companies are also making a shift toward providing more personalised products and services to their customers. Big data plays an important role in providing trends and patterns by analysing the data, which in turn are useful for product and service upgradation and enhancement. Real Time Monitoring in Battery ManagementReal-time monitoring is a technique that allows you to determine the current state of queues and channels within a queue manager. The information returned is accurate at the moment the command was issued.It can provide frequent information on batteries which can help protect the batteries.Real time monitoring in battery management can help replace manual checks by information available at monitoring systems. Sensor modules collect the voltage and temperature data from the batteries and data is transferred in real time can help supervisors identify issues if any and which will lead to operational efficiency.   Predictive MaintenancePredictive maintenance (PdM) techniques are designed to help determine the condition of in-service equipment in order to predict when maintenance should be performed. This approach promises cost savings over routine or time-based preventive maintenance, because tasks are performed only when warranted.It helps in lowering operating and capital costs by facilitating proactive servicing and repair of assets while allowing more efficient use of maintenance personnel and replacement components.It enables companies to accurately diagnose and prevent failures in real time, which is vital in critical infrastructure applications.  Battery failures can prove to be highly expensive in terms of repair costs, in addition to the delay in transporting goods from the resulting downtime. Predictive battery analytics can also help predict battery failures which allows the supervisors to reduce reliability risk and improve uptime.The need for longer battery life, reduced energy consumption, and lower costs will lead companies to provide intelligent solutions. Cognitive Power Electronics SystemsPower electronics systems equipped with intelligence unit can monitor data from sensors and the data can be used to detect faults in the electronic system for real time optimisation of an application.A power converter with monitoring capabilities would be able to detect impedance changes of a battery,enter into a safe state and send information to external systems for further evaluation. Article from MarketsandMarkets Research Private Ltd.Edit by Kynix