[amor de cosmos]

SEIA: US PV system prices fall despite tariffs
19. March 2013 | Global PV markets, Industry & Suppliers, Markets & Trends, Investor news, Trade cases | By: Oliver Ristau

The impact of module prices are always discussed in connection with import tariffs on Chinese photovoltaic products. In the U.S. prices continue to fall, despite the tariffs imposed last year. However, the comparison is lopsided given the significantly higher price levels in the U.S. than in Germany.

Q3 2012 U.S. photovoltaic system prices declined compared to Q2 2012, despite the punitive tariffs imposed on imports of Chinese modules. In a quarterly overview of the market, conducted on behalf of the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) by GTM Research, average prices have, depending on customer group, changed in comparison to the previous quarter as follows:

• Prices for small private rooftop systems fell 4.4% to US$5.21/W
• In the non-residential sector, prices dropped 3% to $4.18/W
• For large photovoltaic plants in the utility sector, prices decreased 7.7% to $2.40/W

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ffs_100010597/

19 Mar 2013 | Germany
Breakthrough in electricity storage

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT in Oberhausen, Germany, have succeeded in significantly increasing the size of the stack and, with it, its capacity. A new design has allowed them to produce stacks up to 0.5 square meters in size. This is eight times larger than the cells in previous systems, and results in power up to 25 kW. The prototype has an efficiency of up to 80 percent, and can take a load of up to 500 amps of current.

So how have the experts managed to increase the size and capacity so remarkably? Scientists began by testing new membrane materials and researching battery management and battery design. Flow simulations helped them to optimize the cell structure. A complete redesign of the battery followed which enabled the Fraunhofer team to make their breakthrough. "The biggest challenge we faced for producing batteries with this level of performance was the development of a completely new stack structure andthe scale-up," explains Dr. Jens Burfeind, Group Manager for Electrochemical Storage Systems at Fraunhofer UMSICHT.

UMSICHT experts are working together with colleagues from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Chemical Technology ICT and for Solar Energy Systems ISE to conduct intensive research into redox flow batteries as part of a project funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). The research work is carried out at the institute in Oberhausen, home to one of Europe's largest test laboratories for redox flow batteries.

http://www.energyharvestingjournal.c...e-00005266.asp