The need for exponential growth in solar-energy production, as required by Europe’s 2020 climate targets and general energy policies, creates formidable technological challenges. A new European research program aims to address these requirements by improving the efficiency of solar cells, devising innovative harvesting techniques, reducing power-conversion losses, and enhancing energy-management strategies.
The ENIAC Joint Undertaking (JU) is a public-private partnership on nanoelectronics bringing together the ENIAC member States, the European Union, and AENEAS (an association representing European R&D actors in this field). It coordinates research activities through competitive calls for proposals to enhance the further integration and miniaturization of devices, and increase their functionalities. It shall deliver new materials, equipment and processes, new architectures, innovative manufacturing processes, disruptive design methodologies, new packaging and 'systemising' methods. It will drive and be driven by innovative high-tech applications in communication and computing, transport, health care and wellness, energy and environmental management, security and safety, and entertainment.
ENIAC JU was set up in February 2008 and will allocate grants throughout 2013. The projects selected for funding shall be executed till 31 December 2017. The total value of the R&D activities generated is estimated at 3 billion €.
In the first stage, European researchers will focus on the design and development of innovative solar cells, exploring novel architectures, approaches and materials. One of the program’s objectives is to demonstrate commercially viable applications of printable dye-sensitized solar cells that represent a promising low-cost alternative to silicon solutions. In a simultaneously running task, the project partners will seek ways to optimize the use of energy generated by the photovoltaic systems, concentrating on power-management electronics for silicon-cell panels and micro-electro-mechanical systems for concentrated photovoltaic cells. The partners intend to explore techniques that track the maximum power point to boost output from solar arrays and improve power-conversion efficiency at the module and segment levels.
ERG is also supposed to generate behavioral models for individual components of the smart grid that enable the development of optimal energy-dispatching and battery-charging algorithms based on inputs from wireless sensor nodes distributed across the network. Devising innovative solutions that optimize local smart grids in terms of power management and co-generation, power consumption and overall efficiency, with real-time energy metering and billing control is also in the project plan.
»The ERG initiative will contribute to the establishment of a solid electronics design base for Europe and create a set of technology standards for the solar energy sector«, said ERG project coordinator Dr. Francesco Gennaro, Staff Engineer at STMicroelectronics. »ERG’s goal is to achieve significant efficiency improvements along the whole supply chain from PV panels to grid connection and make them available to all partners.«
The ‘Energy for a Green Society’ project is organized into a number of work packages, spanning a total duration of 36 months. The total cost of the project is €25.7 million, partially funded through a combination of European and national grants, under the rule of ENIAC JU 2010. The participating countries are Italy, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovak Republic and United Kingdom.
The 27 Project Partners are:
Applied Materials Italia
Chemnitz University of Technology
Italian University NanoElectronics Consortium (IUNET)
National Research Council (CNR)
NXP Semiconductors, the Netherlands
ON Semiconductor Belgium
RWTH Aachen University
Slovak University of Technology Bratislava
STMicroelectronics, Italy – project coordinator
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I have been doing some research on solar panel and wind tibrune systems. The pricing is crazy. For a 10Kw solar grid tie kit system is between $35,000 and $40,000. If you install batteries add $3,000-$5,000. 10Kw will only power a small to medium home without electric heat. Using my electric usage and info from my local electric company payback is 60 years for solar and 361 years for wind. This is unexceptionable. The manufactures of the solar and wind are gouging the consumers. They are using the excuse of supply and demand for the high cost. When demand goes up so will mass production and the price will go down. This is true, but they are making a huge profit on what they are making now. Some items are in the 3000% markup range. Are the power companies keeping the price up so their profits don't suffer? My local electric supplier has an ENERGY PARK that you can go see solar and wind power in action and check out real time data online. They have a 4Kw solar array installed and claim it cost $30,378 installed and a 2.5Kw wind tibrune that cost about $20,000 installed. I think they are giving false numbers to consumers so you won't go green. I was able to find a 3.5Kw kit online for $9,000. This doesn't include any type of mounting materials. You can add $800-$1,200 for these materials. An installer will will charge you $2,000-$4,000 to install it. For the sake of argument lets say this will cost you $15,000 to install but still way out of line for you and me to install. That is a far cry from the $30,000 the power company claims. The power companies don't want you to make your own electric. They are keeping the cost high so they will still make money off you. A 210w panel sells for around $600. They probably manufacture it for under $50. The cost needs to be $100-$150 to the consumer to make it affordable to the average home owner. 50 210w panels make a 10Kw system. That would be $5,000 not $40,000. The manufactures are raping us and the power companies are helping them to keep prices high. When will we get the technology at a proper cost? Let me know what you think.In response to the first 5 answers, Yes, if demand increases so will mass production and thus supply will increase and this will drive the price down. I looked into panels from China. From what I was able to find panels sell for $0.17-$0.45 per watt. In the U.S. they sell for $3.00-$5.00 per watt. Manufactures in the U.S. have lobbied for a higher tariff on solar products that makes them impractical to import on mass. These companies want to keep the price high so their profits stay high, and the power companies do not want you to produce all your own power. That would put them out of business.In response to Steve R, You need to do more research before you post another retarded comment like that. Air DOES have mass (just not very dense). When air is in motion it is called WIND . This motion creates energy. Have you ever heard of a tornado ? Get your facts together next time.
Posted by: Jelyn | 08/11/2012 at 09:46 AM
Since you mention cost, I'm gunesisg your main goal would be saving money? Solar can do that, but it would be a large upfront cost, and perhaps 10 years to get your money back, after which you start saving money. That would be in a good area, like California. The most cost-effective system you can install today would be a grid-tied one. You would check with a solar installer to see how much that would cost.The best way to save money immediately is to turn the A/C thermostat up to what you can stand. In Wyoming, they had the A/C at 80 degrees, and it felt great (dry air).The best way to save money quickly but not instantly is to add shade and insulation to your house.
Posted by: Lhea | 08/11/2012 at 05:36 PM