Power and Electrical Engineering

Developing next-generation energy storage technologies that enable high power and capacity simultaneously A research team led by Dr. Bon-Cheol Ku and Dr. Seo Gyun Kim of the Carbon Composite Materials Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Professor Yuanzhe Piao of Seoul National University (SNU) has developed a high-performance supercapacitor that is expected to become the next generation of energy storage devices. The technology developed by the researchers overcomes the limitations of existing supercapacitors by…

Greater coordination among states could save the region up to $3.25 billion per year in energy system costs A new study led by researchers at the University of California San Diego offers a first-of-its-kind look at how deeper coordination among Western U.S. states could lower the cost of decarbonizing the electric grid—and speed up the clean energy transition. Published in the journal Nature Communications, the paper models how 11 Western states—including California, Arizona, and New Mexico—might build out clean energy…

Power inverters are the beating heart in the drive train of modern electric cars. They turn the electrical energy from the batteries into something that engines can actually use. Fraunhofer IZM has now redefined what this key component is possible of doing: Using the newest developments in power electronics, the „Dauerpower“ inverter was born that can handle enormous amounts of power with low inductance and in a tiny body – with peak efficiency measured at 98.7%. Let’s roll! Modern electric…

Researchers developed a compact, solid-state laser system that generates 193-nm coherent light — the first 193-nm vortex beam — promising significant advancements in semiconductor lithography and other high-tech applications Deep ultraviolet (DUV) lasers, known for their high photon energy and short wavelengths, are essential in various fields such as semiconductor lithography, high-resolution spectroscopy, precision material processing, and quantum technology. These lasers offer increased coherence and reduced power consumption compared to excimer or gas discharge lasers, enabling the development of more…

Combining solar energy and farming can be enhanced by smart PV-trackers that adjust solar panel positioning to ensure an optimal balance between light available for photosynthesis and light available for electricity production Agrivoltaic systems, which combine solar power generation with agricultural practices, offer a promising solution to the growing demand for both renewable energy and food production. By integrating solar panels with crops, these systems not only address the land use conflict between agriculture and energy production, but they also…

Aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs) hold promise for renewable energy integration and electricity grid storage due to their inherent safety, as well as the availability of naturally abundant and synthetically tunable organic redox-active molecules (ORAMs). However, challenges such as low energy density, poor stability at high concentrations, and high synthesis costs hinder their commercial viability. Developing ORAMs that offer both high energy density and ultra-stable cycling performance is essential for advancing stationary energy storage solutions. Increasing the number of electron…

A Penn State engineering student refined a century-old math problem into a simpler, more elegant form, making it easier to use and explore. Divya Tyagi’s work expands research in aerodynamics, unlocking new possibilities in wind turbine design that Hermann Glauert, a British aerodynamicist and the original author, did not consider. Tyagi, a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in aerospace engineering, completed this work as a Penn State undergraduate for her Schreyer Honors College thesis. Her research was published in Wind Energy Science….

Electricity generated using natural underground heat could become cost competitive with power from the grid by 2027 using enhanced geothermal systems, although care is still needed to address earthquake risks, researchers found Historically, access to geothermal energy has hinged on real estate’s famously three most important factors: location, location, and location. Because conventional geothermal power plants require hot, permeable rocks and plenty of underground fluid, use of the technology has been limited mostly to places with recent volcanism, such as Japan,…

As solar energy plays an increasing role in the global power supply, ensuring accurate forecasts of photovoltaic (PV) power generation is critical for balancing energy demand and supply. A new study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences explores how machine learning and statistical techniques can refine these forecasts by correcting errors in weather models. Weather forecasts are a key input for PV power prediction models, yet they often contain systematic errors that impact accuracy. Researchers from the Institute of Statistics…

Researchers from SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), at Osaka University discover that temperature-controlled conductive networks in vanadium dioxide enhance the sensitivity of silicon device to terahertz light  Osaka, Japan – High-speed electronic devices that do not use much power are useful for wireless communication. High-speed operation has traditionally been achieved by making devices smaller, but as devices become smaller, fabrication becomes increasingly difficult. Have we reached a dead end? Not yet! A research team at Osaka University…

Groundbreaking cerium oxide-based thermal switches achieve remarkable performance, transforming heat flow control with sustainable and efficient technology. Cerium Oxide-Based Thermal Switches Revolutionize Heat Flow Control Thermal switches, which electrically control heat transfer, are essential for the advancement of sophisticated thermal management systems. Historically, electrochemical thermal switches have been constrained by suboptimal performance, which impedes their extensive utilization in the electronics, energy, and waste heat recovery sectors. A Novel Approach: Cerium Oxide Thin Films A research team led by Professor Hiromichi…

The Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts has extended its funding for the research association “Geothermal Alliance Bavaria,” with the University of Bayreuth (UBT) continuing as a member for an additional four years. During this new funding phase, the Center for Energy Technology (ZET) at UBT will focus on plant technology and system optimization related to geothermal energy. Collaborative Efforts in Enhanced Geothermal Systems: The Geothermal Alliance Bavaria The Geothermal Alliance Bavaria is composed of the Technical University…

Fraunhofer Lighthouse Project Shows Way for Next-Generation Tandem Solar Cells. The development of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells made of stable materials and manufactured using scalable production processes is the basis for the next technological leap in the photovoltaic industry. Over a period of five years, six Fraunhofer institutes have been working together in the Fraunhofer lighthouse project “MaNiTU” to identify the most sustainable ways of bringing these tandem solar cells to market. In doing so, they were able to achieve…

Innovative sensor designs made possible by glass-integrated waveguides. Waveguides, integrated in glass, have the potential to significantly boost the measuring accuracy of sensors in science and industry. In the “3DGlassGuard“ project, a consortium including Fraunhofer IZM is working on a sensor for measuring the density of seawater that can potentially help generate more consistent climate models. The researchers are also planning to create sensors in glass for power electronics, using innovative optical 3D microstructures and AI design processes. Sensors tasked…

Researchers at DOE’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory are using computers to improve the effectiveness of fusion devices called stellarators. Plasma many times hotter than the surface of the sun swirls inside of a large device. From the outside, the device looks like a metal ring surrounded by scaffolding and walkways. But inside, the device is creating the conditions needed to achieve fusion – the process that powers our sun and every star. Researchers supported by the Department of Energy’s (DOE)…

TU Graz Evaluates Lightning Risk in Real Time. Airport aprons, large construction sites or open-air events are usually defenceless against lightning. To increase safety and reduce downtimes, electrical engineers at TU Graz are developing a forecasting system. Thunderstorms and working outdoors are bad companions. As it is not possible to predict when and where the next lightning discharge will strike, all activities in working areas with high exposure to lightning, such as on the apron of an airport, are suspended…