Many small, decentralised power generators could replace conventional large-scale power plants. But how can wind, sun and bioenergy be integrated into the future power supply system? With the “Kombikraftwerk2”, researchers aim to show how power generation from 100 per cent renewable energies can be achieved and stabilised.  more...

The existing standards for photovoltaic modules are insufficient for hybrid collectors. Therefore researchers are now developing new testing procedures for these so-called PVT collectors, which produce both electricity and heat. The new guidelines are intended to make the operation of the systems and the yield forecasts more secure.  more...

The new Wind Energy Research Alliance was officially launched in Germany at the beginning of this year. Professor Andreas Reuter from the IWES Fraunhofer Institute explained to BINE what opportunities this cooperation offers.  more...

In the future, wind turbines will continue to generate power even when subjected to strong gusts of wind. Intelligent rotor blades will detect and compensate currents independently. This will minimise downtimes. Until now, manufacturers have been discouraged by the high effort. Now the Wind Energy Research Alliance is focussing on this development.  more...

Until now rotor blades have been produced almost completely manually. In order to manufacture them more cheaply, it is now intended to automate this process. The Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology IWES is therefore investigating concepts and technologies for this purpose. In the "BladeMaker" project, the manufacturers want to determine where automation is viable and how rotor blades must be constructed to achieve this.  more...

At the Almería Solar Centre in Spain, a test plant for direct steam generation has commenced operation. Instead of thermal oil, water is heated in the receiver tubes in the parabolic troughs. This allows higher temperatures and saves on plant components. This year the scientists are testing the control system in the 3-megawatt plant.  more...

The Solar Decathlon Europe is a competition for homes which cover their annual energy needs using solar power. Within the framework of an exhibition, they are evaluated over several days in operation. This short period of observation is hardly able to ascertain whether they are also able to meet the competition standards in everyday life. Now, a practical test in Wuppertal has provided sufficient evidence. Since the middle of last year, two people have been living in the house developed by the town´s university.  more...

For the competition, 18 interdisciplinary student teams from all over the world developed and built houses that generate at least as much energy – using solar systems – as they consume. They were supported by their universities, researchers and companies. From Germany, students took part from Hochschule Konstanz University of Applied Sciences (HTWG) and RWTH Aachen University, supported with government energy research funds. Whereas the design from Constance has perfected a modular construction system, with the Aachen team the focus is on recycling. After ten disciplines, the two homes achieved 4th and 5th places.  more...

What potential is provided by thermochemical storage systems? Researchers at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) have been pursuing this question. With a new test plant they are investigating the extent to which solar heat can be stored thermochemically for industrial processes and solar power plants.  more...

When it comes to transporting heat from boilers to heating surfaces or supplying cooling energy to cooling ceilings, water has proved to be an excellent heat transfer medium. However, in some application areas it is now facing competition: various research groups are working on heat transfer fluids that have at least double the energy density. Phase change materials such as paraffin, which are finely distributed in water, store heat when they melt and release it again when they solidify.  more...