Often hundreds of rotors can be installed in a typical wind farm. A little-known fact, however, is that the shadowing caused by the wind turbine rotors impacts the performance of neighbouring turbines and reduces their lifespan. As part of an EU project, researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are studying these interactions […]
Concentrated solar power systems have until recently focused on bulk electricity production, with the main focus on solar towers and trough type collectors. Recent developments have focused on smaller units to supplement thermal power stations and to provide heat for industrial processes. Collectors based on the linear Fresnel reflector design are leading the pack. […]
The plastic recycling industry handles a high proportion of plastic waste by mechanical recycling. Some plastics however, cannot be recycled by this method, and remain a problem in waste management. Systems have been developed that convert mixed non-recyclable plastics to fuel oil using scalable technology. Plastics are created primarily from energy feedstocks, typically natural […]
Nowadays, photovoltaic (PV) systems and wind turbines can be used with maximum efficiency by using an appropriate power converter. The increase in the use of power from these resources has led to the need for research on new control strategies and a suitable topology for high-power converters to meet the demands for performance and […]
Wind towers are currently limited in height by the limits placed on steel towers. Concrete and hybrid towers however, offer the possibility of on-site construction and innovative methods to reach hub heights of 120 m or more. Conventional steel towers used with wind turbines are limited by various factors to a hub height of […]
Rooftop solar has advanced from the original kW sized installations using 50 W, 12 and 24 V panels and inverters to MW installations using panels of 300 W or higher. The move to larger systems has meant a move to strings of series-connected panels and inverters operating in the region of hundreds of volts. […]
Opening the market to independent power producers (IPPs) has brought power purchase agreements (PPA) with it. The characteristics of a PPA depend on the electricity market, energy demand, political and policy requirements. The current form of PPA may well change as the proportion of IPP generation changes, and in line with market reform requirements. […]
The inverter landscape in the commercial PV market is rapidly evolving. This evolution is being driven by the growing role that inverters have in upfront costs (CAPEX) and ongoing costs (OPEX) of commercial PV systems. As the brain of PV systems, inverters are responsible for monitoring and managing energy generation. While inverters may only […]
Thermal pyrolytic gasification of waste is a well-established process, but has several disadvantages. Plasma gasifiers offer advantages in converting carbon-containing materials to synthesis gas, and the process is being used increasingly to dispose of municipal solid waste (MSW) and other waste types. Current technology makes use of plasma generated by electric arcs, but a […]
Lithium ion phosphate cells (LiFePO4) are beginning dominate the energy storage sphere among more discerning designers and customers. These cells have been used in electric vehicles since 2011 and are now appearing in stationary power applications. The expected LiFePO4 battery life in daily cycling off grid systems is 13 to 15 years, and as […]
