Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have conducted the first global assessment into the most promising approaches to end-of-life management for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. PV modules have a 30-year lifespan. There is currently no plan for how to manage this at end of their lifespan. The volume of modules no longer needed could total 80 million … [Read more...] about Strategies for recycling of solar panels
New cobalt-free lithium-ion battery reduces costs without sacrificing performance
For decades, researchers have looked for ways to eliminate cobalt from the high-energy batteries that power electronic devices, due to its high cost and the human rights ramifications of its mining. But past attempts haven't lived up to the performance standards of batteries with cobalt. Researchers from the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin … [Read more...] about New cobalt-free lithium-ion battery reduces costs without sacrificing performance
Twisting magnetic fields for extreme plasma compression
A new spin on the magnetic compression of plasmas could improve materials science, nuclear fusion research, X-ray generation and laboratory astrophysics, research led by the University of Michigan suggests. The study shows that a spring-shaped magnetic field reduces the amount of plasma that slips out between the magnetic field lines. Known as the fourth state of matter, plasma … [Read more...] about Twisting magnetic fields for extreme plasma compression
Scientists build high-performing hybrid solar energy converter
Tulane University researchers are part of a team of scientists who have developed a hybrid solar energy converter that generates electricity and steam with high efficiency and low cost. The work led by Matthew Escarra, associate professor of physics and engineering physics at Tulane, and Daniel Codd, associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of San Diego, … [Read more...] about Scientists build high-performing hybrid solar energy converter
Space station motors make a robotic prosthetic leg more comfortable, extend battery life
A new robotic prosthetic leg prototype offers a more natural gait while also being quieter and more energy efficient than other designs. The key is the use of new small and powerful motors, originally designed for a robotic arm on the International Space Station. The streamlined design offers a free-swinging knee and regenerative braking, which charges the battery with energy … [Read more...] about Space station motors make a robotic prosthetic leg more comfortable, extend battery life