Recent #energy news in the semiconductor industry

13 days ago

➀ The GreenBotAI project, part of the German-French AI cooperation under the Aachen Treaty, focuses on enhancing robotics' energy efficiency by over 25% through AI-driven path planning and real-time control;

➁ It developed modular machine-learning models and 2D/3D tracking systems using reduced-data AI algorithms, compatible with various robotic platforms;

➂ Led by Fraunhofer IWU, the consortium includes Hochschule München, INBOLT SAS, and ENSAM LISPEN, highlighting cross-border collaboration for industrial automation and crisis resilience.

AIHPCenergy
about 1 month ago

➀ Junior Professor Stefan Mönch at the University of Stuttgart has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant of €1.5 million to research highly efficient electrical energy conversion technologies;

➁ The project focuses on partial power processing (PPP) converters and multilevel converters to minimize energy losses in applications like electromobility and solid-state heat pumps, achieving efficiencies over 99%;

➂ Research explores cascading topologies and optimal voltage levels to extend applications to smart materials, soft robotics, and energy harvesting, supported by collaborations in projects like GaN4EmoBiL and COOLPOL.

ElectromobilityGaNenergy
about 2 months ago

➀ Fraunhofer FEP's Design-PV project developed decorative films using roll-to-roll nanoimprint lithography, enabling solar modules to blend seamlessly into building facades while retaining up to 80% efficiency of traditional modules.

➁ Key challenges included improving adhesion of films on ETFE substrates, addressed via a plasma process to enhance surface roughness for reliable bonding.

➂ Future steps include testing additional designs, assessing long-term durability, and presenting the technology at Radtech Europe Conference 2025.

Constructionenergysemiconductor
about 2 months ago

➀ Fraunhofer IGCV assists companies in optimizing energy efficiency and resource utilization, such as by reconfiguring heat treatment furnace schedules to reduce energy waste and integrating renewable energy sources like photovoltaics;

➁ The institute promotes circular economy practices by repurposing composite waste from aerospace production into secondary components, cutting material costs and environmental impact;

➂ Through software-driven simulations and energy monitoring, Fraunhofer IGCV enables data-informed decisions to balance sustainability and economic feasibility in industrial transformation.

HPCSoftwareenergy
about 2 months ago

➀ Fraunhofer IEE launches EnergyFaultDetector, a free open-source AI-based solution for early fault detection in energy systems like wind turbines;

➁ The tool uses self-learning algorithms with existing SCADA data, eliminating the need for additional hardware, and features the ARCANA algorithm for transparent root cause analysis;

➂ Available as a Python library, it includes a quick-start module and integration support for existing management systems.

AISoftwareenergy
2 months ago

➀ Fraunhofer IOSB-AST enhanced grid load forecasting for SWE Netz GmbH by 76%, reducing prediction errors from 3.89 GWh to 0.93 GWh for 2024 through historical and public data integration;

➁ Improved accuracy stemmed from analyzing long-term trends, photovoltaics expansion, and self-consumption patterns, with future electrification trends expected to reverse declining grid loads;

➂ Gas network loads were also studied using the EMS-EDM PROPHET® software and WattAnalyzer tool, aiding SWE Netz GmbH’s infrastructure planning and decision-making.

HPCSoftwareenergy
2 months ago

➀ Dr.-Ing. Ronny Tobias Zimmermann received the Otto Hahn Medal for his research on reactor and catalyst pellet designs enabling flexible chemical energy storage via Power-to-X processes;

➁ His work developed core-shell catalyst pellets that prevent temperature spikes under dynamic renewable energy conditions, maintaining high product yield without requiring reactor modifications;

➂ The innovation offers an economically viable solution for large-scale energy storage, with Zimmermann currently leading a research group at the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg.

HPCMicrochipenergy
2 months ago

➀ The HiQ-CARB project developed sustainable conductive additives (carbon nanotubes and bio-based acetylene black) to reduce CO₂ emissions in lithium-ion batteries, replacing fossil-based materials;

➁ The additives improved battery performance, reduced material usage, and were validated in production by partners like Fraunhofer ISC and CustomCells, enabling lighter and more cost-effective batteries;

➂ Life cycle analysis confirmed a 50% lower CO₂ footprint compared to conventional methods, supporting Europe's transition to eco-friendly battery manufacturing and electric mobility.

automotiveenergysemiconductor
2 months ago

➀ Fraunhofer IFAM developed dynamic impedance spectroscopy for real-time monitoring of battery status during operation, improving safety and lifespan;

➁ The method enables immediate detection of overheating in electric vehicle batteries and optimizes charging strategies, reducing wear;

➂ Applications extend to renewable energy storage and safety-critical sectors like aviation, supporting diverse battery technologies, including solid-state and sodium-ion.

Fraunhoferautomotiveenergy
2 months ago

➀ Fraunhofer IIS and IWES developed an acoustic sensor system with a specialized chip to remotely detect rotor blade damage in wind turbines, reducing costly inspections.

➁ The chip captures structural sound anomalies, transmits minimal data via mobile networks, and enables real-time monitoring, optimizing maintenance for offshore wind farms.

➂ Future upgrades aim to detect lightning strikes, enhancing reliability and supporting the energy transition through improved turbine durability.

Microchipenergysemiconductor
2 months ago

➀ Fraunhofer IIS and IWES developed a chip-based acoustic sensor system to remotely monitor internal damages (e.g., cracks) in wind turbine blades, reducing costly offshore maintenance;

➁ The solution captures structural sound waves via body sensors, identifies damage-specific acoustic patterns, and transmits only critical data via mobile networks for low-bandwidth efficiency;

➂ The ongoing project expands the system to detect lightning strikes, building on prior prototypes to enhance offshore wind farm reliability and optimize maintenance.

HPCenergysemiconductor
3 months ago

➀ The Kenya PtX Atlas, developed by Fraunhofer IEE and partners, identifies optimal locations for green ammonia production in Kenya using renewable energy;

➁ The open-data tool combines GIS analysis and economic evaluations to support investment, local value creation, and Europe's climate-neutral energy transition;

➂ Four key regions in Kenya demonstrate cost-effective production potential, emphasizing sustainable industrialization and international collaboration for green energy adoption.

Fraunhofer IEEenergy
3 months ago
1. Tesla's valuation is underpinned by its potential in AI, robotics, and energy rather than traditional metrics; 2. The robotaxi and autonomous vehicle market could drive Tesla's valuation to $900B due to vertical integration and cost advantages; 3. Optimus robotics and other moonshot projects may add $300B+ in value, with further upside from energy, insurance, and software, despite risks like execution delays and EV competition.
AIenergyrobotics
4 months ago

➀ Researchers developed an automated data analysis method for Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) to measure millisecond-level voltage changes on photoelectrode surfaces, enhancing insights into charge transport dynamics.

➀ The technique, demonstrated using titanium dioxide (TiO2), enables precise correlation between local morphology and optoelectronic properties, critical for improving photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) for sustainable hydrogen and fuel production.

➂ The innovation paves the way for designing more efficient and durable materials, advancing solar fuel technologies by leveraging high-resolution microscopy and data science approaches.

HPCenergysemiconductor
4 months ago

➀ The German Research Foundation (DFG) awards €7.3 million over 4.5 years to the TIDE Research Training Group, a joint initiative by the Universities of Cologne and Bonn, focusing on molecular order's impact on organic electronics;

➁ The second funding phase emphasizes device implementation, building on foundational research linking experimental and theoretical approaches in flexible electronics like OLEDs and solar cells;

➂ Doctoral students receive multidisciplinary training, including international research opportunities and a Bench-to-Business program to bridge academic research with industry applications.

energysemiconductor
4 months ago

➀ Researchers at the University of Surrey developed a lithium-CO₂ battery that stores energy and captures CO₂, using cost-effective caesium phosphomolybdate as a catalyst;

➁ The battery demonstrated high efficiency, stability over 100 cycles, and reduced energy loss, with potential applications in cutting emissions on Earth and Mars;

➂ The design utilizes scalable materials, offering a feasible solution for renewable energy storage and carbon reduction efforts.

batteryenergy
4 months ago

➀ The FAU-led E|MPOWER project launched a test track on Germany's A6 motorway to research inductive charging for electric heavy-duty vehicles, collaborating with government and industry partners;

➀ Bavarian ministers highlighted the technology's potential to eliminate range anxiety with over 90% efficiency, transforming future mobility;

➂ Testing with equipped vehicles begins in late 2025, focusing on system efficiency, coil integration, and safety compliance, using road-embedded coils to enable wireless charging during driving.

automotiveenergysemiconductor
5 months ago

➀ A German-Dutch research team led by Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) discovered that hydrogen bubbles in electrolyzers contain electrolyte microdroplets, revealing internal flow dynamics for the first time;

➁ The study identified that gas bubbles merge and create microjets of electrolyte, forming droplet clouds that reduce efficiency by altering electrode contact and delaying bubble detachment;

➂ Findings, published in Nature Communications, provide insights into improving electrolyzer efficiency, with ongoing research funded by BMBF and NWO to address technical challenges.

Physicsenergysemiconductor
5 months ago

➀ The Universität der Bundeswehr München developed RESAT, an interactive tool for analyzing and optimizing renewable energy systems to achieve cost-effective 100% energy autonomy;

➁ RESAT enables users to visualize configurations, compare technologies (e.g., photovoltaics vs. wind power), and assess impacts of storage systems and cost changes;

➂ The tool serves citizens, municipalities, businesses, and educators, with plans to expand to heat and other consumption areas in the future.

HPCSoftwareenergy
6 months ago

➀ A study by HTW Berlin shows households with PV systems, batteries, and EVs achieve 73% energy autonomy, reducing grid electricity use from 6,900 kWh to 1,900 kWh annually;

➁ Challenges include low charging efficiency (76% at 1.4 kW) and standby energy waste (Wallboxes consume up to 20W, costing 164 kWh/year);

➂ Dynamic surplus charging boosts solar usage by 25%, and larger PV systems (15-20 kW) cover 62% of EV energy needs, enhancing sustainability.

automotiveenergy