This week in cleantech and renewable energy news, three Greentown Labs companies are highlighted for their innovations in long term battery storage, solar skin designs, and microgrid intelligence! In other news, Tesla continues to ramp up production of the Model 3s, a Swedish startup demonstrates their technology for solar energy storage, and renewables are expected to provide 50% of the world’s energy by 2050.
What news have you been reading this week? Share with us @GreentownLabs!
TechGenYZ – Five solar techs changing the world beyond recognition
- Of the solar technologies changing and shaping the solar industry, our member company Sistine Solar is leading the way in solar skin design!
“Solar panels are usually bulky and disrupt the aesthetics of a rooftop. In March 2018, a Boston-based company Sistine Solar became the talk of the town as it introduced solar skin designs. These solar skins allow customers to customize their solar installation according to their rooftops so that the solar panels do not look odd.”
Greentech Media – Inside Form Energy, the Star-Studded Startup Tackling the Toughest Problem in Energy Storage
- Greentown Labs member company, Form Energy, is paving the way for long-term energy storage by working to build a “bidirectional” power plant.
“Renewables have already gotten cheap. They are cheaper than thermal generation. In order to foster a change, they need to be just as dependable and just as reliable as the alternative. Only long-duration storage can make that happen.”
Futurism – In an Effort to Speed up Production, Tesla Is Assembling Model 3s in a Giant Tent
- In order ramp up efforts to meet Model 3s production goals, Tesla built a new assembly line inside a tent, rather than wait for another building.
“Tesla began producing its Model 3s. Since then, the company has missed one production goal after another. CEO Elon Musk’s latest target? Producing 5,000 Models 3s per week by the end of June. For context, as of June 5, the company was producing just 3,500 a week.”
CleanTechnica – The Heila IQ Optimization System Brings Balance To Microgrids
- Greentown Labs member company, Heila Technologies, has built a cloud-connected brain for microgrids to improve resiliency and automation.
“We are big advocates of distributed generation. On the social benefit of things, it’s important to discern microgrids where you just want to put natural gas turbines or diesel generators and CHP from low carbon microgrids. It’s very easy to say that microgrids are going to help with renewables penetration and the reduction of carbon emissions but we have to be really good at the controls systems if we want to manage and make renewables cost effective for people. When you start adding renewables [to microgrids], it can be a really expensive proposition which is what we’re trying to help with.”
Renewable Energy Magazine – Azelio Demonstrates Technology for Low Cost Solar Energy Storage
- Swedish solar company Azelio has launched a demonstration of its new technology for solar energy storage. The technology uses Stirling Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) with multi-hour Thermal Energy Storage (TES), and is able to generate around the clock clean electricity on demand.
“Showcasing this technology is a great milestone for Azelio. We have now proven that this world-unique solution works and together with our partners we will continue the development and commercialization. Low cost and clean electricity that is made accessible on demand also in remote locations at all hours of the day is really a game changer.”
Business Insider – A new report shows where our energy will come from 30 years from now — and coal is the biggest loser
- Because of recently falling battery costs, renewable energy is expected to provide 50% of the world’s energy by 2050.
“The report also suggests that the average cost of developing a solar photovoltaic plant is expected to drop by 71% in the next 30 years. The cost of installing a utility-scale wind power plant is expected to drop 58% over the same period.”