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Swiss-made and cost-competitive: Sunaxer’s new approach to solar receiver coatings
Switzerland isn’t exactly known for cost-effective production conditions. That makes it all the more remarkable that a receiver manufacturer based in Renens, near Lausanne in western Switzerland, claims to produce as cost-effectively as its competitors from Asia. We’re talking about Sunaxer, a startup founded by Anna Krammer and Maxime Lagier …
Bridging the gap between PCM research and real-world storage
In recent years, research into compact thermal energy storage has focused primarily on the development of storage materials. This focus is now set to broaden. The IEA SHC Programme has launched a new research group dedicated to Components for Thermal Energy Storage. “We would like to bridge the gap between …
PVT4EU develops and tests next-generation PVT collectors
The combination of PV module and thermal absorber – known as PVT – is available in many different designs. „There is no universally optimal PVT collector; the best solution is always application-specific,” said Iván Acosta, Project Coordinator of PVT4EU and Head of Engineering at MG Sustainable Engineering, Sweden. This is …
“Our biggest success was defining a protocol for characterization of storage materials”
The newly started IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme Task 75 on Thermal Energy Storage Material aims at taking the successes of previous task work and making them accessible for other research groups. In charge of this communication effort is Professor Frédéric Kuznik from the National Institute for Applied Science …
Hybrid solar collector unlocks triple solar energy harvesting
A solar collector can do more than just generate heat. As a hybrid collector, it can simultaneously produce fuel and electricity as well. Scientists from IEA SHC Task 72 are working on the development of such versatile solar elements for solar photoreactors for the production of fuels and chemicals. The …
Growing demand for industrial heat pumps drives innovation in heat exchangers
Demand for industrial heat pumps is growing. Customers want heat pumps with large capacities and, if possible, with natural refrigerants. This calls for advanced heat exchangers for condensers and evaporators. The German agency solrico conducted a survey among heat exchanger manufacturers to find out what requirements are placed on heat …
Smart controls and low PV costs drive growth in PV hot water
PV hot water systems are growing fast in several regions. Growth is strongest in countries with high PV market penetration or less mature electricity systems. Falling PV hardware prices and smarter control technologies are driving this trend. In a recent IEA SHC Solar Academy webinar, UK-based consultant Tony Day explained …
PVT prices are falling while local production and supply chains continue to strengthen
The European PVT collector industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with manufacturers focusing on increasing production efficiency, improving quality assurance, and reducing dependence on imported components, particularly from China. These developments are the findings of a workshop on production and supply chain strategies for PVT collectors, organized by the PVT …
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