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…