(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

(THE CONVERSATION) In today’s electronic age, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous. Compared with the lead-acid versions that have dominated the battery market for decades, lithium-ion batteries can charge faster and store more energy for the same amount of weight.

These devices make our electronic gadgets and electric cars lighter and longer-lasting – but they also have disadvantages. They contain a lot of energy, and if they catch fire, they burn until all of that stored energy is released. A sudden release of huge amounts of energy can lead to explosions that threaten lives and property.

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As scientists who study energy generation, storage and conversion, and automotive engineering, we have a strong interest in the development of batteries that are energy-dense and safe. And we see encouraging signs that battery manufacturers are making progress toward solving this significant technical problem.

Urban transportation is undergoing a transformative shift toward electrification. As concerns grow in cities around the world about climate change and air quality, electric vehicles have taken center stage.

At the same time, e-bikes and electric scooters are transforming urban transit by providing convenient, low-carbon ways to navigate crowded streets and reduce traffic congestion. From 2010 through 2022, shared e-bikes and e-scooters – those owned by rental networks – accounted for more than half a billion trips in U.S. cities. Privately owned e-bikes add to that total: In 2021, more than 880,000 e-bikes were sold in the U.S., compared with 608,000 electric cars and trucks.

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Battery-powered vehicles account for a small share of car fires, but controlling EV fires is difficult. Typically, an EV fire burns at roughly 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 Celsius), while a gasoline-powered vehicle on fire burns at 1,500 F (815 C). It takes about 2,000 gallons of water to extinguish a burning gasoline-powered vehicle; putting out an EV fire can take 10 times more.

This is a major concern in large cities where electric vehicles are popular. Fire departments in New York City and San Francisco report handling more than 660 fires involving lithium-ion batteries since 2019. In New York City, these fires caused 12 deaths and more than 260 injuries from 2021 through early 2023. Clearly, there is a need for safer handling and charging practices, as well as technical improvements to batteries.

To understand lithium-ion battery fires, it’s important to know some basics. A battery holds chemicals that contain energy, with a separator between its positive and negative electrodes. It works by converting this energy into electricity.

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The two electrodes in a battery are surrounded by an electrolyte – a substance that allows an electrical charge to flow between the two terminals. In a lithium-ion battery, for example, lithium ions carry the electric charge. When a device is connected to a battery, chemical reactions take place on the electrodes and create a flow of electrons in the external circuit that powers the device.

Cellphones and digital cameras can operate on a single battery, but an electric car needs much more energy and power. Depending on its design, an EV may contain dozens to thousands of single batteries, which are known as cells. Cells are clustered together in sets called modules, which in turn are assembled together in packs. A standard EV will contain one large battery pack with many cells inside it.

What causes battery fires

Typically, a battery fire starts in a single cell inside a larger battery pack. There are three main reasons for a battery to ignite: mechanical harm, such as crushing or penetration when vehicles collide; electrical harm from an external or internal short circuit; or overheating.

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Battery short circuits may be caused by faulty external handling or unwanted chemical reactions within the battery cell. When lithium-ion batteries are charged too quickly, chemical reactions can produce very sharp lithium needles called dendrites on the battery’s anode – the electrode with a negative charge. Eventually, they penetrate the separator and reach the other electrode, short-circuiting the battery internally.

Such short circuits heat the battery cell to over 212 F (100 C). The battery’s temperature rises slowly at first and then all at once, spiking to its peak temperature in about one second.

Another factor that makes lithium-ion battery fires challenging to handle is oxygen generation. When the metal oxides in a battery’s cathode, or positively charged electrode, are heated, they decompose and release oxygen gas. Fires need oxygen to burn, so a battery that can create oxygen can sustain a fire.

Because of the electrolyte’s nature, a 20% increase in a lithium-ion battery’s temperature causes some unwanted chemical reactions to occur much faster, which releases excessive heat. This excess heat increases the battery temperature, which in turn speeds up the reactions. The increased battery temperature increases the reaction rate, creating a process called thermal runaway. When this happens, the temperature in a battery can rise from 212 F (100 C) to 1,800 F (1000 C) in a second.

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Managing the thermal runaway problem

Methods to ensure battery safety can focus on conditions outside or inside of the battery. External protection typically involves using electronic devices, like temperature sensors and pressure valves, to ensure that the battery isn’t subjected to heat or force that could cause an accident.

However, these mechanisms make the battery larger and heavier, which can reduce the performance of the device it powers. And they may not be reliable under extreme temperatures or pressures, such as those produced in a car crash.

Internal protection strategies focus on using intrinsically safe materials for battery components. This approach offers an opportunity to address potential hazards at their source.

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Another solution is already in use: battery management systems. These are hardware and software packages built into battery packs that can monitor vital battery parameters, such as the state of charge, internal pressure and the temperature of the cells in the battery pack.

Just as a physician uses a patient’s symptoms to diagnose and treat their illness, battery management systems can diagnose conditions within the battery pack and make autonomous decisions to shut off batteries with hot spots, or to alter the load distribution so that any individual battery does not get too hot.

Battery chemistries are evolving rapidly, so new designs will require new battery management systems. Many battery producers are forming partnerships that bring together manufacturers with complementary battery expertise to tackle this challenge.

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Users can also take steps to maximize safety. Use manufacturer-recommended charging equipment and outlets, and avoid overcharging or leaving an EV plugged in overnight. Inspect the battery regularly for signs of damage or overheating. Park the vehicle away from extremely hot or cold surroundings – for example, park in shade during heat waves – to prevent thermal stress on the battery.

Finally, in the event of a collision or accident involving an EV, follow the manufacturer’s safety protocols and disconnect the battery if possible to minimize the risk of fire or electrocution.

The post Lithium-ion battery fires are a rising public security concern − this is find out how to cut back the danger appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Anchor, which made its name manufacturing portable batteries and chargers, now makes gear for whatever devices you own. Or at least all the devices in your home, as the company just unveiled its Solix home energy system, which can be connected to existing or new home solar systems. Like many other home battery manufacturers, Solix is ​​scalable. The smallest unit has a capacity of 5 kWh – enough for a few hours of emergency power – up to 180 kWh. While it won’t launch until 2024, when it does, it will pair with an electric vehicle charging system that Anker is currently working on.

The company is no stranger to this world, already building small solar and battery packs for off-road guys. But it’s gratifying to see that the company is also making inroads into the home battery market, which, aside from Tesla, is full of companies that aren’t as heavily represented in the consumer space. It’s also heartening to see Anker build equipment for smaller installations, such as apartments, where sometimes the only thing you can do to clean up your energy is hang a solar panel on your balcony.

– Dan Cooper

“The Morning After” is not only a newsletter, but also a daily podcast. Receive our daily audio briefings Monday through Friday by subscribing right here.

The Biggest Stories You May Have Missed

Zwift launches dedicated game controllers for its bike-based fitness platform

Sonos is laying off 7 percent of its workforce

UPS tentatively agrees to equip its trucks with air conditioning

The best Apple Watch accessories for 2023

Amazon’s Echo Dot comes with a smart plug for less money than the speaker alone

McDonald’s just released a Grimace Game Boy Color game

Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon First Look: Fast-paced battles with customizable mechs

My search for the perfect productivity mouse

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard merger temporarily blocked by US judge

What happened to the once popular gaming giant?

Our coverage of Summer Game Fest takes a look at Ubisoft, home to several major franchises including Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed. In recent years, however, the company had faltered, releasing half-baked, half-loved titles with mediocre results. A sharp left turn into freemium gaming and, sigh, NFTs only served to hasten the decay of its good name. Curious what behind-the-scenes drama caused the crash? I felt the same way until I read this.

Continue reading.

Wait, there are consequences if you refuse to pay for things!?

A judge has banned Twitter from its Colorado offices after the building’s owner sued for three months’ rent totaling $75,000. The site is currently home to around 150 employees who have until the end of July to pack up and move out. It also won’t be the only time Twitter lawyers see a courtroom over their owner’s refusal to pay for things. The company is currently being sued (take a deep breath) by its cleaners, its San Francisco landlord and several of its former employees for amounts reportedly owed to them.

Continue reading.

Protect your hearing while you rock.

Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget

If you’re a big fan of live music, you’ve probably been warned about the damage all those big PA systems can do to your hearing. The audio experts at Sennheiser want to solve this problem with a pair of earplugs for live music events. Billy Steele tested the SoundProtex Plus by spending his time at loud performances to see if it could help you enjoy the music without compromising your ability to continue to do so in the future.

Continue reading.

Some programming knowledge required.

Google

Google’s redesigned Home app introduces a script editor that lets users program their own smart home routines. This includes “if this” style instructions, like dimming the living room lights and lowering the blinds if the living room TV is on after dark. It’s intended for people with some programming experience, but it should be simple enough that most dedicated amateurs should feel comfortable at least trying it.

Continue reading.

The post The Morning After: Anker will get into the house photo voltaic battery sport appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

By Felix Cortez

Click here for updates on this story

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KSBW) – A video going viral on social media showing a repairman yelling at a female tenant after he allegedly just sexually assaulted her highlights the safety of tenants and the steps they are taking should do to protect themselves from violent and unscrupulous craftsmen.

The video was taken by Debs Campaigne, a Watsonville tenant who let John Welsh into her home for repairs. Welsh was sent by the property owner and at one point in the video you can be heard yelling, “The fact that I got a little weird with you is because I’m just a guy, whatever the (expletive) is.”

The video has attracted more than 6 million views on social media. But that’s not why Campaigne decided to tell her story to Action News 8, she’s talking to prevent the same thing from happening to other tenants.

“What I kept telling myself is like, I’m his last victim, I’m his last victim and I’ll do whatever you can to be their last victim. Do what you can to stop that person from hurting someone else, even if it’s uncomfortable,” Campaigne said.

In another part of the video, Welsh yells at Campaigne: “…I can leave right now, you have no water, your carpets are not clean, your (power) blinds are not up and nothing is done.”

Campainge says she asked for items in her rented apartment to be fixed but says she ended up being sexually assaulted by Welsh. The 62-year-old was arrested days later by Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputies.

Campaigne says she decided to speak out because she wants other tenants to know their rights when it comes to letting tradespeople into their home or apartment.

Garbage piles up in Pajaro as residents clean up from floods. District chiefs estimate Pajaro’s full recovery will take “months, if not years” “We have the right to ask for background checks and references, just like the owners and landlords have the right to that information before we bring people into our home You don’t have to let anyone in,” Campaigne said.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office says you should do your homework before hiring a contractor or handyman, and they warn landlords not to cut corners to hire the cheapest help.

“Be careful when it comes to checking whether they are licensed or not, checking backgrounds and actually calling references. We believe this can prevent some tragedy,” said Ashley Keehn, spokeswoman for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.

In another interaction between tenant and tradesman, Campaigne is heard saying she just wants “a little space”. Welsh responds by saying, “No, I don’t care what you want.”

A simple Google search revealed that Welsh, who does business under the Bella Tiger name, has had his license revoked for more than a dozen code violations, including; intentional or fraudulent act, no license number, exceeding contract amount and no license number on contracts.

Campaigne wants others to hear their story now more than ever, now that many are rebuilding after the recent storms and floods and may be looking for handymen or contractors.

“Right now, with the storms we’ve had in our county, there is a tremendous need for home support in terms of maintenance and repairs and we just need to protect ourselves,” Campaigne said.

As for the Campaigne case, Welsh has been charged with sexual violence. It’s still an active investigation and sheriff’s office investigators want to hear from anyone who may have done business with Welsh and did business as Bella Tiger.

Please note: This content is subject to a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the author of this article, do not use it on any platform.

The post Viral video of handyman yelling at tenant after alleged sexual battery highlights renter security considerations appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

About the position

The Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT) has a vacancy for a two-year postdoctoral scholarship within the Sustainable Energy System (SES) group. The research activity in the SES group ranges from energy storage to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings. The postdoctoral position is part of the knowledge-building project NORGIBATF, led by the SES group in collaboration with the Norwegian battery manufacturing industry (FREYR, BEYONDER, NORSIRK, Nordic Mining and Norsk Hydro). Several Norwegian industries are planning large scale (GWh) battery cell factories to produce batteries for export. The NORGIBATF project aims to support these industries by developing competence in energy-efficient battery cell production and enabling a world-leading research environment within industrial battery production in Norway.

Current battery factories are equipped with a dry room where several important steps of the battery cell assembly are performed. The relative humidity (RH) in dry rooms should be kept extremely low (< 1% RH) to prevent impairing the long-term battery performance. Keeping such a low RH is an energy-intensive process that represents a large share of the embodied energy in a battery. Therefore, the research aims at improving the energy efficiency of dry rooms.

The main research activity is based on systems analysis where the hygrothermal dynamics of the dry room and the HVAC system will be investigated together. This will be done using detailed dynamic simulations (e.g. Modelica or IDA-ICE), calibrated on field measurements that will serve as virtual experiments. The objective of the simulations is to enable improvements in the design and operation of dry rooms. The research may also focus on the ventilation air distribution in dry rooms, in order to optimize the air distribution to keep the RH below the limit at all locations in the dry room while minimizing the flow rate.

The Head of Department is Professor Terese Løvås. The day-to-day position management is by Associate Professors Bjørn Austbø and Laurent Georges. The NORGIBATF project is managed by Professor Odne Burheim, head of the SES group.

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.

Duties of the position

• Develop a virtual dynamic model of a dry room calibrated on a real test case
• Perform field measurements to support the development of the model
• Analysis the energy efficiency of dry rooms to optimize their design and operation
• Analysis of the ventilation airflow distribution in dry rooms

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in HVAC engineering, process engineering or similar.
• If you can document that the PhD thesis has been submitted, your application can be assessed even if you have not yet defended your dissertation. Documentation of the obtained doctoral degree must be presented before you can take up the position.
• Experience with dynamic simulation tools such as Modelica, TRNSYS, IDA ICE or similar
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Ph.D candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate (in Norwegian).

Preferred selection criteria

Research or professional experience in one or more of the following domains will be considered an advantage:

• Desiccant wheel technology
• Field measurements of indoor climate and/or energy use in buildings and/or industrial premises
• Pre- and post-processing tools like Python or MATLAB
• Data-driven systems modelling
• Building physics
• Control engineering

Knowledge of the Norwegian language will be considered as an advantage

Personal characteristics

• Confidence in working independently
• Ability and willingness to work in inter- and transdisciplinary teams
• creativity
• critical thinking

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 584 700 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 2 years (with teaching duties).

The commitment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants (in Norwegian), and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of ​​work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

The application must include:

• CV and certificates
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your Ph.D, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or that your Ph.D thesis has been submitted
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, or have recently submitted your thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Academic works – published or unpublished – that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 5 items)
• Research plan
• Name and contact information of three referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision-making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to remove yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the request is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Bjørn Austbø, email: bjorn.austbo@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Emmy Høiseth, e-mail: emmy.a.hoiseth@ntnu.no

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

Application deadline: 02.11.2022

NTNU

NTNU – knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Energy and Process Engineering

We conduct research and teaching covering the entire energy chain, from resources to the end user. We look at how energy is produced and used by humans and machines in a sustainable way with regard to health, climate change and the resource base. The Department of Energy and Process Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

deadline 2nd November 2022
employer NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
scope full time
duration Temporary
Place of service

The post Postdoctoral Fellow in Vitality-Environment friendly HVAC Techniques for Giga Battery Factories job with NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY – NTNU appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

About the position

The Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT) has a vacancy for a two-year postdoctoral scholarship within the Sustainable Energy System (SES) group. The research activity in the SES group ranges from energy storage to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings. The postdoctoral position is part of the knowledge-building project NORGIBATF, led by the SES group in collaboration with the Norwegian battery manufacturing industry (FREYR, BEYONDER, NORSIRK, Nordic Mining and Norsk Hydro). Several Norwegian industries are planning large scale (GWh) battery cell factories to produce batteries for export. The NORGIBATF project aims to support these industries by developing competence in energy-efficient battery cell production and enabling a world-leading research environment within industrial battery production in Norway.

Current battery factories are equipped with a dry room where several important steps of the battery cell assembly are performed. The relative humidity (RH) in dry rooms should be kept extremely low (< 1% RH) to prevent impairing the long-term battery performance. Keeping such a low RH is an energy-intensive process that represents a large share of the embodied energy in a battery. Therefore, the research aims at improving the energy efficiency of dry rooms.

The main research activity is based on systems analysis where the hygrothermal dynamics of the dry room and the HVAC system will be investigated together. This will be done using detailed dynamic simulations (e.g. Modelica or IDA-ICE), calibrated on field measurements that will serve as virtual experiments. The objective of the simulations is to enable improvements in the design and operation of dry rooms. The research may also focus on the ventilation air distribution in dry rooms, in order to optimize the air distribution to keep the RH below the limit at all locations in the dry room while minimizing the flow rate.

The Head of Department is Professor Terese Løvås. The day-to-day position management is by Associate Professors Bjørn Austbø and Laurent Georges. The NORGIBATF project is managed by Professor Odne Burheim, head of the SES group.

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.

Duties of the position

• Develop a virtual dynamic model of a dry room calibrated on a real test case
• Perform field measurements to support the development of the model
• Analysis the energy efficiency of dry rooms to optimize their design and operation
• Analysis of the ventilation airflow distribution in dry rooms

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in HVAC engineering, process engineering or similar.
• If you can document that the PhD thesis has been submitted, your application can be assessed even if you have not yet defended your dissertation. Documentation of the obtained doctoral degree must be presented before you can take up the position.
• Experience with dynamic simulation tools such as Modelica, TRNSYS, IDA ICE or similar
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Ph.D candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate (in Norwegian).

Preferred selection criteria

Research or professional experience in one or more of the following domains will be considered an advantage:

• Desiccant wheel technology
• Field measurements of indoor climate and/or energy use in buildings and/or industrial premises
• Pre- and post-processing tools like Python or MATLAB
• Data-driven systems modelling
• Building physics
• Control engineering

Knowledge of the Norwegian language will be considered as an advantage

Personal characteristics

• Confidence in working independently
• Ability and willingness to work in inter- and transdisciplinary teams
• creativity
• critical thinking

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 584 700 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 2 years (with teaching duties).

The commitment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants (in Norwegian), and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of ​​work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

The application must include:

• CV and certificates
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your Ph.D, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or that your Ph.D thesis has been submitted
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, or have recently submitted your thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Academic works – published or unpublished – that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 5 items)
• Research plan
• Name and contact information of three referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision-making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to remove yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the request is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Bjørn Austbø, email: bjorn.austbo@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Emmy Høiseth, e-mail: emmy.a.hoiseth@ntnu.no

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

Application deadline: 02.11.2022

NTNU

NTNU – knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Energy and Process Engineering

We conduct research and teaching covering the entire energy chain, from resources to the end user. We look at how energy is produced and used by humans and machines in a sustainable way with regard to health, climate change and the resource base. The Department of Energy and Process Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

deadline 2nd November 2022
employer NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
scope full time
duration Temporary
Place of service

The post Postdoctoral Fellow in Power-Environment friendly HVAC Programs for Giga Battery Factories job with NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY – NTNU appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The much-anticipated Battery Bluff park in the Presidio opens to the public today.

The 6-acre site features gardens, picnic tables and a majestic view of the Golden Gate, and marks the second of three sections to be opened around the restored site at what was once Doyle Drive.

Seven acres of tidal marsh opened at Quartermaster Reach in December of 2020. The final 14-acre park atop the Presidio Parkway tunnels, Presidio Tunnel Tops, is set to open in July.

A view of Presidio Parkway underneath Battery Bluff.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

“Yes, I’m wearing heels in a park,” joked Mayor London Breed at a clear sunny day at the site yesterday, in front of the old batteries. “I’m in awe of this view, and the magic of what I feel today.”

“People come from all over the world to experience the best that San Francisco has to offer. They come for the sheer beauty, access to green and open space, and to visit some of the best urban parks in the country,” Breed said. “Now, everyone will have more to look forward to and greater access to this national park with the historic renovation of Battery Bluff.”

A view of Battery Sherwood.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Built in 1936 as a New Deal project, the original Doyle Drive connected San Francisco to the Golden Gate Bridge, but by the 1990s it was deemed both an eyesore and one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the city. Before it was finally torn down, federal highway officials gave it a safety rating of 2 out of 100. The park project to restore the site has taken numerous agencies and more than 30 years. The park was designed by late landscape architect Michael Painter.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks at the Battery Bluff opening celebration.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Four historic gun battery sites, Slaughter, Baldwin, Sherwood and Blaney, are now on view at the site for the first time since the construction of Doyle Drive began in 1936. Built between 1899 and 1902, the batteries were part of the US Army’s coastal defense system around the Golden Gate to protect San Francisco Bay.

The viewpoint for the Golden Gate Bridge at Battery Bluff.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

“We are so grateful for the collaborative efforts of countless public servants and community members working together over decades to reimagine San Francisco’s northern waterfront,” said Jean Fraser, CEO of the Presidio Trust, in a statement. “Thanks to that work, the Trust was able to create more park amenities for the enjoyment of all visitors. We look forward to unveiling the final gem, the Presidio Tunnel Tops, later this year.”

A view of the Presidio Parkway from the newly opened Battery Bluff.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

A view of Battery Slaughter, one of four massive concrete gun batteries that at one time defended San Francisco Bay from invasion, that were dug into the hills of the Presidio that are located in the newly opened Battery Bluff.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

A view of Battery Slaughter, one of four massive concrete gun batteries, that at one time defended San Francisco Bay from invasion, that were dug into the hills of the Presidio that are located in the newly opened Battery Bluff.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

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About the position

The SES group has a broad activity including battery technology as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in buildings. The postdoctoral position is part of the NORGIBATF knowledge-building project led by SES in collaboration with the Norwegian battery manufacturing industry (FREYR, BEYONDER, NORSIRK, Nordic Mining and Norsk Hydro). Several Norwegian industries are planning large scale (GWh) battery cell factories to produce batteries for export. This could enable new industries to emerge in Norway. The NORGIBATF project aims to support these industries by developing competence into energy-efficient battery cell production and enable a world-leading research environment within industrial battery production in Norway.

We have a vacancy for a two-year postdoctoral position. The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.

Current battery factories are equipped with a dry room where several important steps of the cell assembly are performed. The relative humidity (RH) in dry rooms should be kept extremely low (< 1% RH) to prevent the humidity to alter the long-term battery performance. Keeping such a low RH is an energy-intensive process that represents a large share of the embodied energy in a battery (up to 40%). Therefore, the research aims at improving the energy efficiency of dry rooms.

Two research activities are targeted:

• The main research activity is based on a system analysis where the hygrothermal dynamics of the dry room and the HVAC system will be investigated together. This will be done using detailed dynamic simulations (eg Modelica or IDA-ICE), calibrated on field measurements, that will serve as virtual experiments. These simulations will enable to derive energy-efficiency measures to improve the design and operation of dry rooms.
• The secondary activity will investigate the ventilation air distribution in the dry room using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calibrated on field measurements. The air distribution should be optimized to keep the RH below the threshold at all locations in the dry room for a minimum airflow rate.

The Head of Department is Professor Terese Løvås. The day-to-day position management is by Associate Professors Laurent Georges and Bjørn Austbø. The NORGIBATF project is managed by Professor Odne Burheim, head of the SES group.

Duties of the position

• Develop a virtual dynamic model of a dry room calibrated on a real test case
• Perform field measurements to support the development of the model
• Analysis of the energy-efficiency of dry rooms to optimize their design and operation
• Analysis of the ventilation airflow distribution in dry rooms

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD
• You must have a professionally relevant background in HVAC engineering or dynamic analysis of industry processes (eg from process, cybernetic or control engineering)
• Proficient user of dynamic simulation tools like Modelica, TRNSYS or IDA ICE
• Excellent written and oral English, TOEFL (minimum 95) or IELTS (minimum 6.5)
• The selected candidate is expected to start the position during spring 2022

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant

Preferred selection criteria

Research or professional experience in one or several of the following domains will be appreciated:

• Documented knowledge/experience of desiccant wheel technology
• Documented knowledge/experience with CFD
• Background in data-driven modeling of systems
• Expertise in data pre- and post-processing tools like Python or MATLAB
• Knowledge of building physics
• Experience with field measurements of indoor environment or energy use in buildings or industrial premises
• Knowledge of the Norwegian language will be considered as an advantage
• Documented experience in scientific writing, typically peer-reviewed journal papers.

Personal characteristics

• Confidence in working independently
• Ability and willingness to work in inter- and transdisciplinary teams
• creativity
• critical thinking
• Excellent communication skills

We offer

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 574 700 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 2 years.

The commitment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of ​​work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

The application must include:

• CV, certificates and diplomas
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees.
• Academic works – published or unpublished – that you would like to be considered in the assessment
• Research project description (max. 3 pages including references) explained your view and interest on the research work that needs to be performed during the postdoctoral position
• Name and address of three referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Laurent Georges, telephone +47 73592484, email laurent.georges@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR consultant Renate Fjellheim, e-mail: renate.fjellheim@ntnu.no.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number IV – 83/22 when applying.

Application deadline: April 30, 2022

NTNU – knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Energy and Process Engineering

We conduct research and teaching covering the entire energy chain, from resources to the end user. We look at how energy is produced and used by humans and machines in a sustainable way with regard to health, climate change and the resource base. The Department of Energy and Process Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

deadline 30th April 2022
employer NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
scope full time
duration fixed terms
Place of service Glosh eyes

The post Postdoctoral Fellow in Power-Environment friendly HVAC Methods for Giga Battery Manufacturing unit job with NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY – NTNU appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Für Lynn Jurich schien Solar in Wohngebieten eine Chance für Generationen zu sein, als nur wenige amerikanische Hausbesitzer über Panelsysteme verfügten. Die Kosten für Solaranlagen würden sinken, vermutete sie, und die Stromrechnungen würden steigen. Das wirtschaftliche Argument für eine umweltfreundliche Entwicklung würde klar werden.

Es gab wenig Erwartung, dass ihr Unternehmen, Sunrun Inc., aufgrund der weit verbreiteten Panik, die durch fragile US-Stromnetze ausgelöst wurde, die unter dem Gewicht der Klimakatastrophen schwanken, neue Kunden gewinnen würde. Aber das passiert jetzt. Seit Sommer 2020 haben Notfälle die Elektrizitätssysteme in der Region New York, Kalifornien, an der Golfküste, Kalifornien, erneut und im Februar, dem vielleicht überraschendsten Ort von allen, in Mitleidenschaft gezogen oder bedroht: Texas, das Energiezentrum des Landes, ein Ort, der es nicht gewohnt ist, den Winter zu schwächen Stürme.

“Es wird nicht langsamer und es wird wahrscheinlich noch schneller als erwartet”, sagt Jurich, Mitbegründer und CEO von Sunrun. „Um die Geschwindigkeit des Klimawandels und des extremen Wetters und die Auswirkungen auf das Stromnetz wirklich zu bekämpfen, müssen wir schneller vorgehen. Wir haben nicht den Luxus, dies in den nächsten 20 bis 30 Jahren wieder aufzubauen. “

Klimabedingte Wetterkrisen sind noch kein Hauptkatalysator für das Wachstum von Sunrun, dem führenden Solarunternehmen für Privathaushalte in den USA. Die Dringlichkeit, die sie fördern, trägt jedoch dazu bei, den Dachsektor und die Heimbatterien in den amerikanischen Zeitgeist zu rücken. Nur etwa 3% der US-amerikanischen Haushalte sind mit Solarenergie ausgestattet, verglichen mit mehr als 20% in Australien.

„Die Dynamik an Orten, die in der Vergangenheit nicht für Solaranlagen in Wohngebieten geeignet waren, beginnt sich zu ändern“, sagt Joe Osha, Aktienanalyst bei JMP Securities. “In Texas wird es Leute geben, die nach Resilienz suchen.”

Amerikas Klimanotfälle ereignen sich an einem Wendepunkt: Der US-amerikanische Solarsektor für Wohnimmobilien erzielte 2020 trotz einer historisch schwachen Phase zu Beginn der Pandemie Rekordinstallationen – und Prognosen von Wood Mackenzie erwarten jeweils neue Höchststände in den nächsten drei Jahren.

“Wenn Sie mich 2008 gefragt hätten, wie hoch die Wahrscheinlichkeit von einwöchigen Stromausfällen in Kalifornien und Texas ist, hätte ich gesagt, dass sie wirklich niedrig sind”, sagt Edward Fenster, Mitbegründer und Vorstandsvorsitzender von Sunrun. „Die Tatsache, dass das Netz für das moderne Wetter so schlecht ausgestattet war, haben wir verpasst. Und das hat offensichtlich eine wirklich wichtige Dringlichkeit und Chance für die Lagerung geschaffen. “

Dann gibt es den Wechsel in der Verwaltung: Präsident Joe Biden drängt darauf, das elektrische System des Landes bis 2035 vollständig grün zu machen. Dies ist ein Ziel, das viel Kapazität auf dem Dach erfordert – sowie Milliarden von Dollar an neuen Übertragungsleitungen, die ein Jahrzehnt dauern könnten zu bauen, um entfernte Taschen von robuster Wind- und Sonnenenergie zu unterstützen. Bidens Angebot wird nur die Megatrends verstärken, die hier bleiben werden, egal wer letztendlich seine Nachfolge antritt: die Dekarbonisierung und die Elektrifizierung von allem, von Fahrzeugen über Gebäude bis hin zu Öfen, da die USA in den kommenden Jahrzehnten versuchen, die CO2-Emissionen zu eliminieren.

In gewisser Hinsicht ist Jurichs Unternehmen ideal positioniert, um dem Moment gerecht zu werden. Sunrun mit Sitz in San Francisco war das führende Wohnunternehmen in den USA, noch bevor es im vergangenen Jahr den Rivalen Vivint Solar Inc. inmitten der Pandemie kaufte. Es hat eine nationale Marke, die, obwohl sie offensichtlich nicht annähernd der Bekanntheit von Tesla Inc. entspricht, an Bekanntheit gewinnt. Es erkannte auch das Potenzial der Speicherung vor vielen seiner Kollegen, was das Unternehmen letztendlich vom Installateur und Finanzier zum New-Age-Versorger machen könnte. (Sunrun gehört zu den Unternehmen, die mit etablierten Stromversorgern zusammenarbeiten, um Energie aus solarbetriebenen Batteriesystemen zu gewinnen.)

Trotzdem gibt es Herausforderungen. Die größten Energieversorger in Kalifornien – Amerikas führender Solarstaat – schlugen im März vor, die Vergütung für Dachkunden zu senken und eine neue Verbindungsgebühr hinzuzufügen. Die Zinssätze sind gestiegen. Es gibt Konkurrenz von anderen Unternehmen, die bereit sind, sich an der Elektrifizierung von Wohngebäuden zu beteiligen, darunter Originatoren von Solarkrediten und lokale Installateure. Und die Bürokratie dehnt den Verkaufsprozess für Wohnimmobilien weiter aus und trägt zu hohen Kundenakquisitionskosten bei.

Jurich und ihre Familie waren in den letzten Monaten in Utah, wo Vivint ihren Sitz hat, während sie daran arbeitet, das Unternehmen in Sunrun zu integrieren. Von Utah aus beobachtete sie, wie sich die Texas-Krise abspielte, ein Tiefkühl, der tagelange Stromausfälle verursachte und Millionen in der Kälte und Dunkelheit zurückließ. Mehr als 100 Menschen starben. “Es war schockierend”, sagt Jurich. „Viele Menschen im ganzen Land betrachten Kalifornien immer gerne als‚ Oh, das ist eine Ausnahme; Oh, es ist Kalifornien. ‘ Aber wenn Sie sehen, dass etwas so Dramatisches und Tragisches passiert – wirklich an einem anderen Ort -, ist es wirklich so viel persönlicher und viszeraler, dass es nicht nur um saubereren Strom geht, sondern um Sicherheit und Wohlbefinden und gesunde Haushalte. “

Der 41-jährige Jurich ist introvertiert und stets auf dem Laufenden – im Grunde das Gegenteil von Elon Musk, CEO von Tesla. Sie schreibt regelmäßig Podcasts und ihr Unternehmen ist seit langem eines der engagiertesten Dachunternehmen in der Bundes- und Landespolitik.

Jurich begann um 2013 mit der Meditation. „Wenn sie sich mit etwas beschäftigt, ist sie voll da“, sagt Diana Chapman, eine Mentorin von Jurich und Mitbegründerin der Conscious Leadership Group, einer Organisation, die sich selbst als unterstützende Führungskräfte beschreibt, um „Vertrauen aufzubauen und Schaffe bewusste Kulturen. “

Jurich und ihr damaliger Freund, ebenfalls ein aufstrebender Unternehmer, waren sich einig, dass der Partner mit der besten Geschäftsidee dies zuerst angehen würde, bevor sie zur Business School an ihre Alma Mater, die Stanford University, zurückkehrten. Jurich interessierte sich bereits für die Umwelt. Eine Reise nach China im Jahr 2005 für ein Praktikum bei einer Investmentbank machte Eindruck: Jurich fand die Verschmutzung so schlimm, dass eine Halskette, die sie eines Morgens poliert hatte, am Abend getrübt war. „Ich war überzeugt, dass eine nachhaltige Infrastruktur das größte zu lösende Problem unserer Generation sein würde“, sagt sie.

Jurich heiratete eine Woche vor dem Start von Sunrun im Jahr 2007, dem ersten Ehepartner mit einer neuen Firma. Sunrun war Teil einer Welle von Clean-Tech-Startups, die kamen, bevor Solar den Mainstream erreichte. Das Unternehmen entstand, wie viele Unternehmen aus dem Silicon Valley, aus einer Verbindung in Stanford: Jurich traf einen ihrer Mitbegründer, Fenster, bei einer Orientierungsveranstaltung an einem Ort, der als Hausboot in Rechnung gestellt worden war. (Fenster erinnert sich, dass es wirklich ein schwimmender Lastkahn mit einem Töpfchen war). Mitbegründerin Nat Kreamer war eine Freundin von Fenster, die aus dem Krieg in Afghanistan zurückgekehrt war und die USA unbedingt von ausländischer Energie entwöhnen wollte.

Viele der damaligen Startups konzentrierten sich auf die Entwicklung futuristischer Solartechnologien. Sunrun ging einen anderen Weg: Einsatz von Finanzmitteln, um bewährte Technologie auf Dächern einzusetzen. Die enormen Investitionen in Polysilicium, die bereits getätigt worden waren, führten dazu, dass Sunrun Pools von Dächern finanzieren und sie Hausbesitzern über langfristige Mietverträge anbieten konnte – ein Schlüsselprodukt beim Mainstreaming von Dachsystemen. „Wir haben alle Technologien, die wir brauchen, um massive Veränderungen vorzunehmen – das war unsere ursprüngliche These“, sagt Jurich.

Ihr Fokus während der Starttage des Unternehmens umfasste viel Terrain – Betrieb, Strategie, Steigerung der Effizienz der Installateure des Unternehmens, Spendenbeschaffung und sogar das Anbringen von Flyern an Autos, die an den Bahnhöfen von Bay Area Rapid Transit geparkt sind. “Es war eine echte Hektik”, erinnert sich Jurich. Fenster war der erste CEO des Unternehmens.

Sunrun verbrachte einen Teil des Jahres 2008 damit, die Finanzierung in Einklang zu bringen, und schloss einen Vertrag mit US Bancorp ab, als die Finanzmärkte in den freien Fall gingen. “Lynn und Ed fühlten sich wie der letzte Hubschrauber über Saigon”, erinnert sich Steve Vassallo, General Partner bei Foundation Capital, der 8 Millionen US-Dollar in das Startup investiert hatte.

Jurichs Unternehmen war ein Frühförderer, aber SolarCity Corp. – dessen größter Anteilseigner der Vorsitzende Musk war – ging zuerst an die Börse und wuchs schneller.

Sunrun ging 2015 an die Börse. Bis dahin war Jurich alleinige Geschäftsführerin und hatte ein einmonatiges Baby. „Eines meiner Lieblingsbilder aus unserer Branche ist das von Lynn Jurich an dem Tag, an dem Sunrun an die Börse ging“, erinnert sich Emily Kirsch, Gründerin und geschäftsführende Gesellschafterin von Powerhouse Ventures, einem Venture-Fonds für saubere Energie und Mobilität. „Sie ist von Männern in meist grauen Blazern umgeben. Sie trägt einen leuchtend gelben Blazer, während sie ihr Neugeborenes in den Armen hält, während sie die Eröffnungsglocke läutet, während Konfetti vom Himmel fällt. “

SolarCity setzte im letzten Zeitraum des Jahres 2015 272 Megawatt Systeme ein, eine vierteljährliche Hochwassermarke, die kein Unternehmen annähernd erreicht hat. (Sunrun hat in dieser Zeit 68 Megawatt verbraucht). Aber das von Moschus unterstützte Unternehmen war auch schuldenbelastet. SolarCity wurde 2016 von Tesla übernommen – und begann bald, Marktanteile an Sunrun abzutreten.

Als die Panelpreise weiter fielen, festigte sich der Sektor in Kalifornien, weniger jedoch in Regionen mit niedrigen Strompreisen – auch dank des Schiefergasbooms. Auf nationaler Ebene beeinflusste der Status der Bundeszuschüsse häufig die jährlichen Gesamtinstallationen. Einige Unternehmen „konzentrierten sich vollständig auf die Bereitstellung von Megawatt und verstanden die Wirtschaftlichkeit ihrer Aktivitäten nicht vollständig“, sagt Osha von JMP. „Was Sunrun auszeichnete: Sie hatten ein sehr gutes Verständnis für die finanziellen Auswirkungen ihrer Aktivitäten. Sie sind nicht nur um des Wachstums willen gewachsen. “

Die Marke SolarCity mag verschwunden sein, aber Teslas Solargeschäft für Privathaushalte ist, wie Osha es ausdrückt, „von den Toten zurück“. Es ist im Aufschwung mit einem standardisierten, webbasierten Ansatz, der die Kosten für die Kundenakquise senkt. Der Autohersteller setzte in den letzten drei Monaten des vergangenen Jahres 86 Megawatt Solar ein, die beste Zeit seit dem dritten Quartal 2018. Dies war die Hälfte der Leistung von Sunrun in diesem Quartal. Bei einem Gewinnaufruf im Januar sagte Musk, er erwarte, dass Tesla Marktführer werden werde. “Aber sie haben einen langen, langen Weg vor sich”, sagt Osha. Tesla antwortete nicht auf eine Bitte um Kommentar.

Jurich sagt, je mehr Bewusstsein und Investitionen in die Dekarbonisierung des Systems vorhanden sind, desto besser. Eines ihrer Mantras: „Alle Menschen und alle Umstände sind meine Verbündeten“, sagt sie. „Selbst die bestehenden Unternehmen mit mehr fossilen Brennstoffen und die Menschen, die in diesen Branchen gearbeitet haben, verdienen Anerkennung… Sie haben zur Lebensqualität beigetragen und eine wirklich wichtige Rolle bei der Entwicklung der Welt gespielt. Und jetzt ist es an der Zeit, sich weiterzuentwickeln und auf dekarbonisierte Technologien umzusteigen. “

Solarunternehmen in Wohngebieten führen die langsame Marktdurchdringung des Sektors in den USA teilweise darauf zurück, dass Verzögerungen zugelassen werden, die dazu beitragen, die Kosten für die Kundenakquise hartnäckig hoch zu halten. Daher drängt die Branche darauf, die behördlichen Genehmigungen zu rationalisieren. “Einige der Staaten, wie Kalifornien, die behaupten, pro-solar zu sein, sind einige der schlechtesten für weiche Kosten und Genehmigungen”, sagt Osha. In Australien kosten einige Wohnsysteme weniger als 3.000 USD (nach Subventionierung) und können laut Hugh Bromley, Analyst bei BloombergNEF, einer Forschungsgruppe für saubere Energie, innerhalb von Wochen nach dem Kauf installiert werden.

Der Verkauf von Solarenergie auf dem Dach kann jedoch Low-Tech sein und ist häufig mit hohen Marketingkosten verbunden. Der Verkauf von Tür zu Tür war eine tragende Säule des Sektors, bevor die Pandemie ausbrach. Die Vertriebs- und Marketingkosten von Sunrun für das erste Quartal des Vorjahres übertrafen die Benchmarks für nationale Unternehmen und lokale Installateure. Das Unternehmen ist der Ansicht, dass die Kosten für die Kundenakquise auf Marktebene wettbewerbsfähig sind und hohe Renditen erzielen. Wenn es nicht den nächsten Dollar für die Akquisition des nächsten zusätzlichen Kunden ausgibt, bleibt das Geschäft auf dem Tisch.

Das Versprechen, mit Sonnenkollektoren und Batterien zumindest einen gewissen Blackout-Schutz zu erzielen, verändert das Verkaufsgespräch. Für einige Hausbesitzer sind die Klimakrisen zu wirksamen Werbeanzeigen für diese Produkte sowie für Generatoren geworden.

“Trägheit kann so lange anhalten, bis die Dinge zu schmerzhaft sind und die Menschen jetzt motiviert sind, sich zu ändern”, sagt Jurich. “Ich glaube, wir stehen jetzt am Anfang.”

Die Nachfrage nach Batterien “ist so hoch, dass sie seit Ende letzten Jahres das Angebot übersteigt”, so ein Research-Bericht der Goldman Sachs Group Inc. im März. Laut Pavel Molchanov, Analyst bei Raymond James, haben seit 2019 mindestens 1 Million Menschen von fünf Stromausfällen in den USA betroffen. Die Texas-Krise war besonders sichtbar, und Sunrun verzeichnete im Februar in Texas einen Anstieg des Web-Verkehrs um 350%. Auch seine Kollegen sahen große Anstiege.

“Es ist etwas sehr Befähigendes, in der Lage zu sein, seine eigene Entscheidung zu treffen und seinen eigenen Strom zu kontrollieren”, sagt Jurich. “Wir sind wirklich innovativ darin, das Haus in ein Energieobjekt zu verwandeln.”

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