Solar Capacity Research Articles

Enhanced thermochemical energy storage properties of SiC-doped calcium-based material with steam addition during heat charging process

Thermochemical energy storage based on the reversible carbonation/calcination reaction of CaCO3/CaO is emerging as a promising technology for energy storage in concentrating solar power systems. However, the inherent weak solar absorption capacity of natural calcium-based materials necessitates a substantial enhancement in their solar absorption capability. In this study, dark SiC particles of different sizes were introduced into CaO-based composite particles supplemented with cement and microcrystalline cellulose. The aim was to explore the influence of SiC components on the solar absorptivity, energy storage capacity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical properties of CaO-based particles. The results indicate that doping 10 wt% of SiC with a size of 25 μm in CaO-based particles demonstrated optimal results, corresponding to a 20.3 % increase in the average optical absorption and a 2.86-fold improvement in the thermal conductivity compared to the undoped particles. Furthermore, introducing steam during the decomposition of SiC-doped CaO-based particles significantly enhanced the mechanical properties. The breaking force of SiC-doped CaO-based pellets after 50 runs with 10 vol% steam addition was 1.39 times higher than that of the identical particles without steam treatment.

Design of Prototype of Solar Power Based Waste Water Treatment Plant

This research aims to find out an overview of the prototype solar power-based Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), the component requirements of the PLTS system as an energy source for the WWTP, and level of efficiency in using solar power plants in IPAL operations. The type of research used is experimental research. Based on the research results a prototype solar power-based IPAL system has been produced with a capacity of 800 liters per hour or 11,200 liters per day (14 operational hours) with a Biotech/biofilter type modified by adding a water filter after the chloronization process. Besides of that, a source of electrical energy for all electrical components of the WWTP with a solar panel and battery capacity of 200 wattpeak and 100 Ah respectively. The efficiency level of the solar panels used reached 88.36% at 12.00 (very sunny weather conditions) with input power above output power in the range 09.00-16.00. With this efficiency, electrical energy can be stored to operate the WWTP at night.

Solar-driven high-performance biomass porous carbon for efficient CO2 capture

Temperature swing adsorption (TSA) based on solid adsorbents is an efficient CO2 capture technology, but the temperature swing process is energy-intensive. Utilizing solar energy to regenerate adsorbents during the CO2 swing adsorption process can decrease energy consumption. This work reports a novel high-performance biomass porous carbon for efficient CO2 capture and separation in the solar-driven TSA process. Inspired by the distinctive internal expansion structure of succulents, the adsorbent is synthesized using succulents as precursors with a large specific surface area (1715 m2/g) and high solar absorbance (90.38 %), resulting in high CO2 adsorption capacity and solar thermal conversion capacity. It achieves a remarkable working capacity of 30.94 mg/g at a low desorption temperature (60 °C) in the solar-driven TSA process with a light intensity of 600 W/m2, 80.7 % higher than commercial activation carbon. The proposed biomass porous carbon derived from succulent plants has substantial potential for application in the solar-driven TSA process.

Unleashing India's Solar Potential: A Review of the National Solar Mission and the Path to Sustainable Energy in India

India possesses vast potential for generating clean energy from Renewable Energy Sources (RES), specifically hydro, wind, and solar. This potential has been appropriately recognized, indicating India's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint as a developing nation. The significance of this endeavor is becoming increasingly evident worldwide. The objectives of this review study are to provide an overview of the abundant solar energy resources in India, including availability, current status, strategies, perspectives, challenges, achievements, and future prospects. The review study examines the Government of India's Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), launched in 2009 to promote clean energy. This mission, initiated on January 11, 2010, is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC–2008). The JNNSM aims to deploy 22,000 MW of solar power through grid-connected and off-grid solar power plants. The review results show that as of August 2023, India has achieved a cumulative installed solar power capacity of 63,000 MW, exceeding the initial target of 22,000 MW set under the JNNSM. The country has seen a significant increase in solar energy deployment, with an average annual growth rate of 18% over the past five years. India's solar energy potential is estimated to be around 750 GW, indicating vast untapped resources. The review study recommends that India should continue to strengthen its policy and regulatory frameworks, incentivize private sector participation, and invest in research and development to further harness its solar energy potential. Addressing challenges related to grid integration, storage, and financing will be crucial for the sustainable growth of the solar energy sector in India.

Ultra-broadband absorber based on algorithmic optimization of MgF2–Fe stacked structure

Broadband absorbers possess a wide array of potential applications, including electromagnetic cloaking, solar energy harvesting, and solar power generation. However, achieving excellent ultra-broadband absorption with plasma-metal materials remains challenging due to their inherently narrow bandwidth. To tackle this issue, we propose an ultra-broadband absorber, free from lithography, composed of a multilayer stack of magnesium-iron fluoride (MgF2–Fe). In this study, we optimized the structural parameters of the absorber using a particle swarm optimization algorithm to achieve theoretically optimal absorptivity. Numerical simulations revealed that the absorber achieved an impressive theoretical average absorption of 98.4% across a broad wavelength range from ultraviolet to near-infrared (321–1800 nm). Importantly, it exhibited stable absorption performance at large incidence angles (0–70°), while maintaining high absorption efficiency. Furthermore, it demonstrated polarization independence at perpendicular incidence angles. Subsequently, experimental preparations and tests were conducted on absorber samples to evaluate their solar energy absorption capacity. Both experimental and theoretical comparisons underscored the promising potential of this structure for applications in solar energy collection, conversion, and solar power generation.

Solar absorptance of fly ashes cycled in oxidizing and non-oxidizing high temperature conditions

Storage of energy as sensible heat in solid particles is an increasingly viable strategy for the next generation of commercial concentrating solar power installments. However, additional strategies are needed to preserve particle stability and solar absorptance capacity of particles under high temperature cyclic conditions. Furthermore, identification of a low-cost substrate is necessary for lowering both the cost and the environmental impact of the production of new TES particulates. While several parameters, including heat capacity, density, and particle size must be considered for TES media, this study addresses critical knowledge gaps related to the identification of TES particulates and the impact of thermal atmosphere on particulate solar absorptance, which is a necessary, though not sufficient parameter that must be optimized for TES media. This work demonstrates that the thermal stability and solar absorptance of revalorized coal fly ash TES particles can be enhanced at high temperatures by exposure to an argon environment. Thermal cycling of ashes in argon at temperature of 800 °C and 1000 °C results in the preservation of ash microstructure as observed using SEM, and an increase in solar absorptance of between 3 % and 12 %, and between 6 % and 21 % over atmospheric environments, respectively. These results provide evidence that considerable enhancements in certain properties salient for TES may be achieved under inert atmospheres, and that fly ash in particular may be optimizable for TES purposes. Study results also suggest that next generation CSP plants should consider operational designs which support inert atmospheres for TES and/or heat transfer media.

Solar photovoltaic energy development and biodiversity conservation: Current knowledge and research gaps

AbstractSolar photovoltaic (PV) has become the second renewable energy source, giving rise to potential conflicts with biodiversity conservation. However, the information available about the impacts and mitigation measures of solar PV energy is scarce and scattered, and a rigorous and comprehensive review on the topic is lacking. Here, we review the state of knowledge on its impacts and mitigation measures and identify main knowledge gaps. For that, we reviewed more than 2000 articles, out of which only 180 assessed the impacts of solar PV (N = 138) and/or propose mitigation measures (65). Even though Asia and Europe head the list of regions with the highest PV installed capacity (59% and 22%, respectively), a large portion of the existing knowledge is drawn from North American environmental contexts (48% of the studies), specifically from deserts (41%). Impacts were addressed on plants (26%), arthropods (14%), birds (10%), microorganisms (10%), reptiles (7%), mammals (4%), and bats (1%), but also on abiotic factors (e.g., humidity and temperature; 20%) and ecosystem services (3%). Most studies addressed the impact of PV on habitat alteration at landscape (33%) and microhabitat scale (20%), and on microclimate at microhabitat scale (17%), but other topics have been scarcely addressed (e.g., impact on microclimate at landscape scale or the potential of agrivoltaic systems). Lastly, 53% of the studies employed a single PV facility, and preconstruction situations were rarely reported (8%). There is a strong environmental context bias in the current understanding of PV impacts, which might not be extrapolable to other environmental situations like farmlands, where most of the solar PV capacity is being installed. Moreover, standardized and robust sampling designs are lacking to address cumulative, long‐term, and long‐scale impacts and produce comparable findings across contexts. Given the lack of empirical evidence and the irrepressible development of PV energy, it is advisable to apply an iterative monitoring and adaptive process to guarantee a safe energy transition. This review may provide useful guidance on prioritizing research efforts for a smooth shift to renewable energy.

Multifunctional PPy/MXene decorated polylactic acid film for thermal management and electromagnetic interference shielding

Composite films composed of biodegradable materials possessing flexibility, thermal regulation capabilities, and electromagnetic interference shielding attributes represent optimal selections for wearable items and the packaging of devices. Here, we employ a simple alternating immersion and spray-coating process to fabricate flexible multifunctional films by combining hydrophobic PLA electrospun film with PPy and MXene, and investigate the thermal management and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of the films. Through alternating immersion, PPy can be rapidly in-situ polymerized on the PLA film, enhancing the surface roughness of the fibers, enabling firm integration of MXene with the film. Benefiting from the broad wavelength absorption characteristics of PPy, the solar absorption capacity of the film is significantly enhanced (97.16 %), endowing it with excellent photothermal conversion capability. Meanwhile, the high conductivity of MXene imparts the composite film with controllable and stable active heating ability, meeting heating demands under complex weather conditions. Finally, inspired by origami techniques the electromagnetic interference shielding performance of films with different folding frequencies was compared. It was found that attributed to the increased reflection paths, the film exhibited a significant improvement in electromagnetic interference shielding performance (32.58 dB to 51.96 dB) after folding. In brief, this biodegradable multifunctional composite film is an attractive candidate for future wearable products or devices packaging.

Taking a Portfolio approach to wind and solar deployment: The case of the National Electricity Market in Australia

We formulate a new, computationally inexpensive framework based on Mean–Variance Portfolio Theory to determine the optimal allocation of wind and solar capacity, which can leverage the complementarity between intermittent solar and wind generation to meet electricity demand at the lowest cost, with gas acting as reserve generation in times of insufficient wind and solar output, and the variance of the mismatch between demand and the output of wind and solar is taken as the risk indicator. We then apply this framework to the context of the National Electricity Market in Australia. Our result reveals that, assuming sufficient network capacity, the estimated lowest generation cost achievable is $45.26/MWh, where the expected percentage of unserved energy (USE) is 0.0044%. For a risk-averse planner, a level of USE less than 0.0001% may be achieved at the expense of almost doubling the cost to $88.23/MWh. Under the current network capacity constraints, we estimate these costs to increase to $53.09/MWh and $89.90/MWh respectively, while the USE could rise to 0.017%. Moreover, network expansions in Queensland are found to be the most beneficial. On the other hand, a 4-hour battery storage system with power capacity equivalent to 20% of the peak load could help reduce the cost by up to 6.8% alongside further decrease in the USE. Our results are also shown to differ drastically from the conventional, output-based approach. Since the two approaches address two different questions depending on whether demand is flexible, demand flexibility is also an important factor.

The Importance of Photovoltaic Solar Panel Recycling in Romania: Aligning with the Green Deal and Fit for 55 Strategies

Abstract Romania’s flourishing solar energy sector necessitates responsible management of photovoltaic (PV) panel waste. The research examines at the current level of PV panel recycling and anticipates future production of waste. By examining data on solar production capacity and panel characteristics, the study forecasts a significant rise in PV waste. Supportive legislation and rising environmental consciousness have contributed to increased PV installations, but regulating the waste produced is essential. The analysis predicts a jump in trash volume, reaching at least 32,892 tons by 2033, a stunning 2336% increase over 2024–2032. This represents an exceptional chance for Romania to become a European leader in PV panel recycling. Romania could establish an innovative industry, acquire recycled materials for new panels, and encourage a circular solar energy economy if it optimizes its waste management. Together with EU policies to promote the use of recycled materials in the production process of new panels, a national PV waste management strategy needs to be developed, with collaboration between government, industry and environmental organizations. This paper provides significant insights for participants in Romania’s solar energy market. By identifying the challenges as well as opportunities relating to PV waste management, interested parties could collaborate proactively to build an economically viable future for solar energy in Romania.

Designing a 10 MW peak solar power plant using a system advisor model (SAM software). Case study: Somalia, Mogadishu Region

Globally, there has been a sharp increase in energy needs due to industrialization and technological advancement. The wisest course of action is to switch from traditional energy sources to renewable energy sources, or ecologically friendly types of energy. Solar energy is one of the most abundant and widely accessible renewable energy sources. Photovoltaic (PV) systems using solar energy to generate electricity are weather-dependent. With the data available in the System Advisory Model (SAM), the Mogadishu region of Somalia can produce about 10 MW peak solar PV system design, which will be helpful to reach the country's target of total installed solar energy capacity by 2025. The SAM was used in this paper to design (system technical design and financial analysis) the small, medium, and large PV systems for the different countries. A 6% annual growth in producing capacity is the ultimate objective of the Somali National Development Plan (NDP). The nation's production capacity increased from 115 MW to 344 MW between June 2021 and June 2015. The target of the NDP is to raise generating capacity to 1043 MW between 2022 and 2027. It is intended to raise the electrification rate to 75% from its present 36% level. 41 MW of solar and 1 MW of wind power are Somalia's total installed capacity for renewable energy (RE). There are 3,000 hours of sunshine each year in the nation, and daily solar radiation levels range from 5 to 7 kWh/m2. Somalia has 41 MW of installed solar capacity and uses it nationwide. A solar photovoltaic system in Somalia attained a performance ratio of 70.8%. By 2030, the UN wants to run all of its operations with 80 percent renewable energy.

Price responsiveness of solar and wind capacity demands

Accurate estimates of the price responsiveness of residential, commercial, and industrial electricity demands are essential for energy policy modelling, integrated resource planning, and determining a competitive wholesale electricity market's generation levels, prices, and capacity investments. Hence, we estimate the own-price elasticities of solar and wind capacity demands of a load serving entity (LSE) that provides retail electricity service, thereby answering two interrelated research questions: (1) does solar capacity demand far exceed wind capacity demand? and (2) are solar and wind capacity demands price-elastic? Inspired by the theory of input demand under input price uncertainty, our innovative methodology integrates (a) wholesale spot energy price forecasts by time of day; (b) pseudo data found by minimizing a LSE's annual risk-adjusted budget for procuring solar and wind capacities; and (c) econometric analysis of (b) to estimate the extent of substitutability between solar and wind capacities and the own-price elasticities of solar and wind capacity demands. Using Texas as an illustrative example, we find that when solar and wind power purchase agreements have similar energy prices, solar capacity demand is approximately four times wind capacity demand. Further, the own-price elasticity estimates are −5.34 for solar capacity demand and −5.65 for wind capacity demand. As a result, solar and wind capacity demands tend to substantially grow (shrink) in response to declining (rising) solar and wind energy prices. This lends support to proposals to raise solar and wind energy prices for mitigating the adverse effects of large-scale variable renewable energy development on an electric grid's efficient operation and system reliability. However, adopting such proposals also slows the grid's pace of decarbonization, thus underscoring the policy and regulatory challenges in the quest for a clean and sustainable electricity future. Hence, our policy recommendation of price managing solar and wind capacity demands is a topic of policy debate that deserves the attention of an electric grid's stakeholders.

Improving community resilience through distributed solar energy as critical infrastructure – a case study of South Asia

Purpose The analytical framework proposed in this study aims to link the capital portfolio approach to sustaining human well-being, 2015 sustainable development goals and development action ARC-D concepts. Nepal case study is a “tribrid” power generation system that combines distributed solar, hydro and wind power generation capacities for the resilience of a community of around 500 people in a remote village with a total installed capacity of 28 kW. The second case study is about the solarization of 900 health centres in Chhattisgarh, India, with off-grid solar PV with a cumulative capacity of 3 MW. Design/methodology/approach Critical infrastructure at the community scale needs to be resilient to maintain community-level functionality in the face of adverse impacts. The present study provides two case study sites from Nepal and India to demonstrate various elements of resilience building for critical infrastructures, especially for the energy sector. Findings Granular technology and distributed generation in Nepal and India can act as critical infrastructure in providing on-demand electricity service to enhance community-level resilience along with future opportunities of scale up. Originality/value The analytical framework for evaluating community-scale resilience through critical infrastructure design and application of the framework using evidence based on case studies are the original contributions.

SOLAR AND WIND LEADS THE CHARGE: ANALYZING INDIA'S DYNAMIC GROWTH IN RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPACITY FROM 2016 TO 2023

With a focus on significant advancements in solar, wind, and hydropower capacity, this report offers a thorough analysis of the growth trajectory of India's renewable energy industry from 2016 to 2023. The analysis highlights the exponential increase in solar installations, especially in regions like Rajasthan, which will account for over half of the nation's renewable energy mix by 2023. Solar energy emerged as the dominating force in this regard. Even if solar energy was rising faster, wind energy continued to expand steadily, highlighting its crucial place in the renewable portfolio. The report also explores the hydropower industry, highlighting the minor differences in growth patterns between small- and large-scale projects. The study's thorough data analysis shows a significant increase in the production of renewable energy, particularly in 2023, demonstrating the industry's strong reaction to India's challenging clean energy targets. The study of solar capacity at the state level reveals notable regional differences that may be ascribed to policy, geographic, and infrastructure variations. These findings indicate potential areas for focused policy interventions. The results support a multifaceted strategy for developing renewable energy, highlighting the significance of balanced growth from many sources. To maintain the sector's pace, recommendations include improving legislative frameworks, making infrastructural investments, and encouraging innovation. To support strategic choices and propel India's transition to a sustainable energy future, this research offers insightful information to stakeholders, investors, and policymakers.

Green hydrogen prospects in Peninsular Malaysia: a techno-economic analysis via Monte Carlo simulations

According to Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap, hydrogen is a critical component of the country's energy transition. However, there is a scarcity of hydrogen studies for Peninsular Malaysian states, which limits discussions on green hydrogen production. This study employs a Monte Carlo model to assess the economic and technical factors influencing the success of green hydrogen in Peninsular Malaysia. The study focuses on three target years: 2023, 2030, and 2050, representing various stages of technological development and market adoption. The levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of a 1-MW Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system ranges from $5.39 to $10.97 per kg in 2023, highlighting early-stage challenges and uncertainties. A 6-MW PEM electrolyzer system could achieve an LCOH of $3.50 to $4.72 per kg by 2030, indicating better prospects. Because of technological advancements and cost reductions, a 20-MW PEM electrolyzer system could achieve an LCOH of $3.12 to $3.64 per kg in 2050. The findings indicate that the northern regions of Peninsular Malaysia have consistently low LCOH values due to favorable geographical conditions. Due to minor variations in solar capacity factors, uncertainty distributions in LCOH remain stable across different regions. Some states may face increased uncertainty, emphasizing the need for additional policy support mechanisms to mitigate risks associated with green hydrogen investments. The sensitivity analysis shows that key cost drivers are shifting, with early-stage electrolyzer investments dominating in 2023 and electricity prices becoming more important in 2030 and 2050. Future research could focus on optimizing green hydrogen systems for areas with underdeveloped green hydrogen industries. This study contributes to informed discussions about green hydrogen production by emphasizing the importance of tailored strategies that consider local conditions and highlighting the role of Peninsular Malaysia in the energy transition.

Examining nonlinear effects of socioecological drivers on urban solar energy development in China using machine learning and high-dimensional data

In the context of carbon neutrality target, renewable energy sources have been transforming from “supplementary energy” to “main energy”, which have promoted the green and low-carbon transition of global energy supply system. In-depth analyzing the spatial patterns and driving mechanisms of renewable energy expansion are of significance for optimizing the spatial layout of clean power, and avoiding the phenomenon of wind and solar power curtailment. In this paper, we proposed an ensemble learning model to examine the nonlinear effects of physical geography, resource endowment, and socio-economic factors on solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity at the prefecture-level city scale in China. Using the city-level multi-sources geospatial big data, we extensively collected a total of 175 related explanatory variables and cumulative installed capacity of solar PV power for 295 prefecture-level cities of China. The recursive feature elimination algorithm (SVM-REF) is firstly used to extract the optimal feature subset of urban PV capacity from multi-dimensional features variables. Furthermore, three advanced machine learning models (random forest, decision tree, extreme gradient boosting) are developed to identify the key influencing factors and nonlinear driving effect of urban solar PV power expansion in China. The results show that China's PV installation capacity is highly concentrated in Northern and Northwest parts of China, with the occupancy over 70% in 2019. Moreover, the XGBoost model has the best prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.97) among three methods. We also found that total amount of urban water resources, average solar radiation, and population density are the most important controlling factors for urban solar PV capacity expansion in China, with contribution of 35.6%, 17.7%, and 13.3%, respectively. We suggested that urban solar PV layout mode in China is recommended to gradually shift from resource orientation to the “resource-environment-demand” comprehensive orientation. The paper provides a replicable, scalable machine learning models for simulating solar PV power capacity at the prefecture-level city scale, and serves as a motivation for decision-making reference of the macro siting optimization and sustainable development of China's green power industry.

The health benefits of solar power generation: Evidence from Chile

Renewable energy can yield social benefits through local air quality improvements and their subsequent effects on human health. We estimate some of these benefits using data gathered during the rapid adoption of large-scale solar power generation in Chile over the last decade. Relying on exogenous variation from solar irradiation and incremental solar generation capacity over time, we find that solar energy displaces coal generation and curtails hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases. These effects are largely manifested in cities downwind of and near coal plants that are displaced by the introduction of new solar. The reduction in exposure to air pollution from these displaced coal plants seems to be driving this relationship. Our results help quantify the health benefits that can be achieved through greater renewable energy investments.

I-V response test of 60–150 W mono-crystalline solar panel

This work investigates the discrepancies in electrical parameters of mono-crystalline solar panels between Ago-Iwoye weather conditions and the manufacturer’s specified ideal conditions. Manufacturer’s specifications are typically based on 1,000 W/m2 global solar irradiance, AM 1.5, and 25°C operating temperature, while actual weather conditions at installation sites can vary significantly. Mono-crystalline (single-crystal) silicon solar panels of capacities 60, 80, 100, and 150 W were evaluated through current-voltage (I-V) response tests at an installation site in Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria, with solar irradiance exposure from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The analysis of I-V and P-V curves revealed a significant reduction in maximum power output by 28.6%, 25.9%, 28.9%, and 19.36%, respectively, compared to the manufacturer’s stated values. This deviation underscores the importance of considering local weather conditions during solar PV projects, and we recommend adding an additional 20%–30% of the total solar panel capacity during installations to account for variations in solar irradiance and operating temperatures, ensuring optimal performance and effective solar power generation in Ago-Iwoye and similar areas.

Thermal analysis and dynamic attributes of a sustainable CSP-fossil hybrid power plant utilizing organic Rankine cycles for enhanced plant performance

The increasing global demand for energy, driven by population growth, highlights the need for sustainable solutions to ensure a sustainable future. This article outlines the design and optimization process of a 1 MW CSP-Fossil hybrid power plant that examines the utilization of toluene and cyclohexane as working fluids within three distinct Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) configurations (simple, recuperated, and with Open Feed Organic Heater). This study aims to propose a sustainable and effective solution for satisfying energy needs while addressing the intermittent nature of solar resources by enhancing system architecture and incorporating fossil fuel technologies. The solar field design has been based on a Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system, which generated 44% of the total energy output from renewable solar sources. The analysis takes into consideration a selection of criteria, notably thermal efficiency, overall efficiency, power generation capacity, and cost-effectiveness. The selection of relevant performance indicators, evaluation of alternative ORC configurations and working fluids, and optimization of the solar multiple and thermal storage capacity are included among the criteria for conducting the parametric investigation. Based on the investigation, it has been determined that the ORC configuration, which includes a recuperator and utilizes cyclohexane as the working fluid, demonstrates the most favorable design. This configuration offers enhanced efficiency and improved performance. Additionally, it is determined that a solar multiple value of 1.7 and the integration of a 12-hour thermal energy storage system are optimal. This led to a 4-5 hour increase in the availability of daily power generation, thereby improving the reliability and flexibility of the CSP plant. The incorporation of fossil fuels into the hybrid CSP-Fossil plant results in a notable enhancement of the Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF). This improvement guarantees uninterrupted energy generation even when solar resources are limited. The implications of the findings are significant for the future development of CSP systems. These findings provide valuable insights into enhancing energy efficiency and tackling sustainability challenges.

Surface hydration of trimethylamine N–oxide/perovskites hybrid aerogel facilitates anti–fouling solar desalination and seawater electrocatalysis

Developing active and stable electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction is of great significance to generate oxygen and hydrogen by seawater electrolysis, which however remains some issues that high energy consumption and chloride corrosion. Here we pioneered a polymer/inorganic hybrid engineering strategy for achieving excellent salt resistance solar evaporation and oxygen evolution performance (OER). The La0.9Sr0.1CoO3/nickel foam–cellulosic aerogel (LSC1/NF–CA) was synthesized by engineering Trimethylamine N–oxide (TMAO) polymer brush onto the surface of hybrid aerogels composed of La0.9Sr0.1CoO3/Ni foam (LSC1/NF) and cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol, which has good hydrophilic features, intrinsic solar capture capacity, and stable OER performance in seawater. Benefiting from the synergy of solar desalination with surface hydration effect of TMAO, the LSC1/NF–CA presents a superior catalytic activity, requiring a lower overpotential of 341 mV and a tafel slope of 58.2 mV dec−1 at 10 mA cm−2 under 6.0 sun illumination. Our results establish a new strategy that can guide the design of stable and efficient polymer/inorganic hybrid catalysts, which shows a promising prospect as alternatives to noble metal–based catalysts for seawater splitting.