Innovations In Electrical Engineering

Scientists successfully transmitted electricity through air using ultrasonic sound waves and laser beams. Finland is positioning itself at the forefront of a wireless energy revolution, with researchers from the University of Helsinki and the University of Oulu pioneering methods to move electricity without physical cables. One of the most striking developments involves using high-intensity ultrasonic sound waves to create invisible pathways through the air, effectively guiding electrical sparks along a controlled route. While currently in the experimental phase, this 'acoustic wire' technology could eventually enable contactless electrical connections and smart interfaces that function entirely without plugs or traditional wiring. Beyond sound-guided energy, Finnish innovation is also leveraging light and radio frequencies to solve complex power challenges. The private sector is developing 'power-by-light' systems that utilize high-powered lasers to transmit electricity to remote receivers, providing critical galvanic isolation for hazardous environments like nuclear plants and high-voltage stations. Simultaneously, advancements in radio-frequency harvesting are turning ambient waves into 'Wi-Fi for power,' potentially eliminating the need for millions of disposable batteries in low-power IoT sensors. Together, these technologies signal a shift toward a more flexible, cable-free infrastructure for global industry. source: University of Helsink. Wireless Electricity Transmission: Breakthroughs in Acoustic and Laser-Based Power. University of Helsinki News.

A team of scientists in Germany has created an ultra-thin type of solar panel that has the potential to revolutionize solar energy collection and usage. Developed at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, these panels are made from a unique layered combination of crystals—barium titanate, strontium titanate, and calcium titanate—stacked to a thickness of just 200 nanometers, which is roughly 400 times thinner than a human hair. Despite using significantly less material, these panels can produce up to 1,000 times more electric current than conventional silicon-based solar cells. The key innovation lies in the crystals’ natural ability to generate electricity when exposed to light, eliminating the need for the complex architectures found in current solar technologies. In addition to boosting efficiency, this breakthrough could reduce material waste and lower manufacturing costs, making solar power more affordable and easier to produce. This advancement contributes to the expanding range of solar energy innovations focused on making clean energy more accessible and sustainable for the future. #solarpower #solarpanels #renewableenergy

🌍 Half the towers, half the land. Welcome to the world of HVDC. This image shows two transmission systems, both operating at 800 kV. But there’s a big difference between HVAC (alternating current) and HVDC (direct current). 🏗️ On the left: 800 kV AC (two three-phase lines) ➤ Requires a right-of-way (ROW) width of ~320 ft (~100 m) ➤ 6 conductors (2 circuits × 3 phases) ➤ Large towers with wide phase spacing to reduce corona discharge ⚡ On the right: ±800 kV DC (one HVDC line) ➤ Only ~130 ft (~40 m) ROW width ➤ Just 2 conductors (bipolar configuration: + and −) ➤ More compact tower, lower profile, reduced EM fields and losses 🔍 Why HVDC is more efficient: ✅ 40–60% less land use ✅ Significantly lower losses over distances >600–800 km ✅ No reactive power = better efficiency and control ✅ Ideal for underground, subsea, mountainous, or densely populated routes ✅ Transmits up to 6400 MW on a single corridor 📌 Real-world example: Yunnan–Guangdong ±800 kV UHVDC (China) ➤ Length: 1,418 km ➤ Power capacity: 6400 MW ➤ Configuration: Bipolar overhead transmission ➤ Delivers hydropower from Yunnan to industrial Guangdong ➤ Reduces losses, land footprint, and CO₂ emissions 📐 HVDC isn’t just an alternative it’s how we optimize large-scale transmission: less land, lower losses, more power. #HVDC #UHVDC #PowerTransmission #EnergyInfrastructure#GridEngineering #ElectricalEngineering #SustainableEnergy #SmartGrid#HVACvsHVDC #ChinaEnergy

🚀 What Makes a Great EV Motor? A deep benchmarking study of 48 Motors from 31 EVs uncovers the engineering shifts. 🔍⚙️ 🧠 The Main Objective of this research is to identify key design and manufacturing trends in electric vehicle motors. The goal was to understand how EV motors have evolved in efficiency, structure, materials, and production processes. This was done using macroscopic (system-level) and microscopic (component-level) analysis of 48 motors from 31 electric vehicles. 🔎 Macroscopic View – System Level Trends 🏗️ Integrated Designs Are Winning Modern EVs now use integrated motor + gearbox + power electronics. Nearly 50% of the analyzed motors use this setup. ✅ Fewer parts, more compact, reduced cost, and weight. ⚡ Power Density is the New Benchmark Power Density = Power output (kW) / weight (kg) PMSMs (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors) lead in performance. But Induction Motors (IM) and Externally Excited Synchronous Machines (EESM) are catching up. 📉 From 2018 to 2023, all topologies show higher power-per-kg trends. 🔬 Microscopic View – Component-Level Insights 🌀 Stator Design Matters 80%+ motors use press/shrink fit for stator-housing attachment. Welded laminations are common but can cause eddy current losses. Bonded and interlocked stacks are rising in use for better performance. 🔧 Winding Technologies Flat wire tech = High fill factor, better cooling, more efficient. Round wire = Easier to make, but heavier and bigger winding heads. U-hairpin, I-pin, X-pin and Trim-cut pin designs optimize copper usage. 🧪 Why thinner wires and smaller windings? High RPMs (now reaching 20,000+) increase eddy currents. Smaller, segmented conductors reduce these losses. Also improves copper efficiency — power per kg of copper has doubled. 📦 Material Efficiency is Key Average stator weight reduced by 20–30% in five years. Outer stator diameters getting smaller; inner diameters stable (for torque). Copper usage is down, but performance per kg is way up. 🔚 Conclusion Electric motors in EVs are evolving fast and smart. Modern designs focus on compactness, high power density, and efficient manufacturing. PMSM motors still lead — but IM and EESM technologies are improving rapidly. Design is now a balance between electrical performance, thermal control, material cost, and ease of manufacturing. 📉 Copper usage is optimized. 📈 Power output is maximized. 🔁 Manufacturing is more scalable. This study sets a new benchmark for how to design, compare, and manufacture EV motors for the future. 🤔 Your thoughts? With 800V systems and high-speed drives becoming common, which motor type will dominate the next EV decade — PMSM, EESM, or IM? #EVTech #ElectricMotors #SustainableMobility #Motordesign Source: "Advances in electric motors: a review and benchmarking of product design and manufacturing technologies" - David Drexler · Achim Kampker · Henrik C. Born · Michael Nankemann · Sebastian Hartmann · Tobias Kulawik

#Monofacial or #Bifacial? This is another question！ In the rapidly evolving photovoltaic (#PV) industry, both monofacial and bifacial modules hold significant market positions. Most solar modules were monofacial before 2018, as the back side of solar cell used to be covered by aluminum for backside field passivation. Monofacial modules generate electricity solely through front-side sunlight absorption. The backside is encapsulated with opaque materials to protect internal cells from environmental factors like moisture and dust, ensuring stability and longevity. This changed around 2018 with PERC cell design, as the backside of solar cell can be exposed for additional power generation. Canadian Solar was one of the first to introduce bifacial modules in 2018. We introduced bifacial modules based on #Topcon and #heterojunction (#HJT) #solar cells subsequently. Bifacial modules are encapsulated by glass or transparent sheet on the back so that they capture reflected light (e.g., from sand, buildings) and diffuse light under cloudy/low-irradiance conditions, boosting total energy yield. For example, in desert power plants with sandy ground (reflectance ~20–40%), bifacial modules achieve 10–30% higher output due to rear-side reflected light. Similarly, in distributed systems surrounded by buildings, rear-side gains further enhance performance. Are there standards for measurement of the backside power generation? The answer is Yes. IEC 61215 IEC61730 were officially modified in 2021 and 2023, respectively, to include “Bifacial Nameplate Irradiance” or #BNPI in addition to the Standard Test Condition (#STC) used for frontside power rating.  • STC Power: Measured under 25°C, 1000W/m² front-side irradiance, and AM 1.5. This metric provides a universal benchmark for comparing module performance under idealized conditions. • BNPI Power: Combines front-side irradiance (1000W/m²) and rear-side irradiance (135W/m²), reflecting dual-sided energy generation in real-world applications. For example, Canadian Solar 182Pro 620W bifacial module are labelled as: • 620W STC power (23.0% efficiency). • 687W BNPI power (25.4% efficiency), calculated using the same dimensions (2382 x 1134 mm). BNPI metrics more accurately represent the total energy yield of bifacial modules. BNPI power easily surpasses what monofacial technologies can achieve. In my next post, I will share our field testing results, comparing (1) bifacial with monofacial modules, and (2) high bifaciality modules such as Topcon and HJT with low bifaciality modules such as backside contacts (xBC). #SolarTechnology #ModulePerformance #SolarTesting

Sound can carry electricity. Finnish researchers showed it in the lab. At the University of Helsinki, scientists were studying sparks when they noticed ultrasound could bend the discharge and steer it. That sparked work across Finland, Spain, and Canada around a simple question: can sound act like an invisible wire? What exists now: ↳ Acoustic "wires" that guide sparks along sound waves (University of Helsinki, Science Advances) ↳ Laser power links that send energy through light (NTT / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Electronics Letters) ↳ Radio-frequency systems that harvest ambient energy (University of Oulu) What the results actually show: Scale: proof of concept, tiny sparks over short distances Range: room-scale for acoustic steering; about 1 km for laser transmission Efficiency (laser): 15% over 1 km. 1 kW sent, 152 W received. Finland has not deployed a nationwide wireless grid. Viral headlines mashed together three separate research tracks and called it "Finland transmits electricity through air." That's not what these teams built. The innovation is narrower and even more useful: new ways to route electrical discharges, power sensors in hazardous spaces, build contactless connectors, and send emergency power into disaster zones where cables aren't an option. What's missing: Rules for wireless power at scale. Safety standards for strong acoustic fields in occupied spaces. Clear regulation for high-power lasers over public land. The science is moving faster than the institutions. The next step won't be a bigger cable. It may be steering sparks with sound. But only if the guardrails arrive before the deployment pressure does. Sources: University of Helsinki (Science Advances), NTT/MHI (Electronics Letters), University of Oulu

The last two days have seen two extremely interesting breakthroughs announced in quantum computing. There is a long path ahead, but these both point to the potential for dramatically upscaling ambitions for what's possible in relatively short timeframes. The most prominent advance was Microsoft's announcement of Majorana 1, a chip powered by "topological qubits" using a new material. This enables hardware-protected qubits that are more stable and fault-tolerant. The chip currently contains 8 topologic qubits, but it is designed to house one million. This is many orders of dimension larger than current systems. DARPA has selected the system for its utility-scale quantum computing program. Microsoft believes they can create a fault-tolerant quantum computer prototype in years. The other breakthrough is extraordinary: quantum gate teleportation, linking two quantum processes using quantum teleportation. Instead of packing millions of qubits into a single machine—which is exceptionally challenging—this approach allows smaller quantum devices to be connected via optical fibers, working together as one system. Oxford University researchers proved that distributed quantum computing can perform powerful calculations more efficiently than classical systems. This could not only create a pathway to workable quantum computers, but also a quantum internet, enabling ultra-secure communication and advanced computational capabilities. It certainly seems that the pace of scientific progress is increasing. Some of the applications - such as in quantum computing - could have massive implications, including in turn accelerating science across domains.

(warning: für solar nerds only 🤓) Most people think heterojunction technology (HJT) has lost the solar race. Today TOPCon is 70% of the global PV market—and nearly 90% of Chinese production—mostly because it's the natural manufacturable upgrade from PERC. Incredible global industrialization effort from Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE, TetraSun, Jolywood, etc. HJT—which predates TOPCon by decades—is also an impressive technology. It offers some of the highest efficiencies among silicon cell technologies, plus the lowest tempco and deg rate (~0.2%/yr). Its performance over a 30+ year lifetime is second to none. But HJT manufacturing is tricky, and Chinese PERC factories were more easily and cheaply retooled for TOPCon. Enter perovskite-silicon tandems 🟫 🟦 People don't yet appreciate that tandems mitigate HJT's historical challenges. A few examples: (1) The amorphous silicon passivation in an HJT cell trades off higher voltage and fill factor for lower current (more parasitic absorption in the visible). In a tandem, the perovskite top cell absorbs that light first. No tradeoff—keep the voltage and the current. +1% absolute efficiency (or more) vs. TOPCon-based tandem. (2) Double-sided surface texturing (standard for HJT but not TOPCon) is super effective at trapping light and reducing reflection losses in a tandem cell structure. +1% efficiency or more. (3) HJT's less-conductive a-Si is more tolerant of pinholes and shunt defects in perovskite device stacks than other passivation approaches—a real advantage when you're commercializing the thinnest solar cells ever made at scale (<1µm thick). This will likely increase yield in early tandem production lines. The pattern is clear—tandem architectures leverage HJT's strengths and mitigate its weaknesses. One more thing: HJT is the natural next-gen silicon for space—high efficiency and radiation tolerant. When you pair it with perovskites, which are famously (in my circles) rad-hard, you get the next two generations of space solar in one architecture 🛰️ HJT is the perfect foundation for tandem solar cells! 🏭 -- My colleagues Tomas Leijtens, Giles Eperon, Thomas Große, and Marcel Koenig lay out the full technical case in their latest piece (link below).

🚀 Diving into Ferrari's Cutting-Edge Front Axle Motor Tech in the Elettrica – A Fresh Take on EV Innovation! As Ferrari gears up for its first all-electric supercar, the Elettrica (launching 2026), I'm fascinated by the front axle's electric motors. These aren't your standard EV setups – they're packed with tech that's relatively novel in the mainstream EV world, like highly segmented Halbach array magnets wrapped in carbon fiber and Litz wire with concentrated windings. While not widely adopted today due to complexity and cost, they push boundaries derived from F1 heritage. Let's break down the good, the bad, and how it stacks up against leaders like Lucid. Halbach Array Magnet Segments in Carbon Fiber: What it is: - Instead of magnets lined up as North-South-North-South... they're rotated 90° each in a circle around the rotor. How it works: - This pattern cancels the magnetic field on the shaft side but doubles it on the stator side – like focusing a laser beam. Advantage: - +20% more torque in a smaller, lighter package No heavy iron backing needed = less weight 93% efficiency by cutting magnetic waste Ferrari twist: 100+ tiny segments wrapped in carbon fiber to spin at 30,000 rpm without flying apart. Litz Wire with Concentrated Windings: What it is: - 400+ hair-thin copper strands (0.1mm each), insulated and twisted together – like a rope vs. one thick wire. How it works: - At high speeds, electricity only flows on a wire's surface (skin effect). Litz gives current full access to every strand. Advantage: - Cuts heat by 50% = 93% peak efficiency Handles 2x more power without melting Shorter wires = less copper, lighter motor Ferrari twist: Machine-wound into concentrated coils around stator teeth for instant torque bursts. These features make the Elettrica's front motors (210 kW combined, 3,500 Nm wheel torque) a beast for performance, with a disconnect clutch for efficient RWD mode on highways. That said, when it comes to raw metrics like efficiency, power density, and torque density, Ferrari's setup still trails the Lucid Air's PMSM. Lucid uses a double V-shaped Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) design with advanced continuous wave windings (a woven copper style, similar to but distinct from hairpin), achieving up to ~5 miles/kWh overall efficiency (translating to motor peaks likely 95-98%), insane power density (~16 kW/kg for the drive unit), and scalable torque that powers models from 430 hp to over 1,000 hp. The IPM adds reluctance torque for broader speed ranges, and the wave windings minimize losses even further – all in a lighter, more integrated package. It's a reminder that while Ferrari's tech brings exotic flair, mass-market innovators like Lucid are setting efficiency benchmarks for real-world range and sustainability. EV powertrains are evolving fast – what's next? Source: #ElectricVehicles #FerrariElettrica #EVTech #AutomotiveInnovation #SustainableMobility #LUCID

The best part of being a Deeptech VC is how it feeds your curiosity. Arguably one of the most fundamental skills in venture capital. The bleeding edge of research is where I like meandering to anticipate possible commercialisation trends. Quantum computing is one of these areas. I've already made a couple of bets here, and the field continues to advance through both commercial milestones and research breakthroughs. Hybrid systems for chemistry computation are a particularly interesting field to immerse yourself on a Sunday 🤓☕ Take this recently published research: Korean researchers just achieved something remarkable with photonic qudits - think of them as quantum Lego blocks that can hold multiple states instead of just 0s and 1s. While Google and IBM struggle with 12-qubit systems requiring complex error corrections on superconducting architectures, this team achieved 16-dimensional calculations using a single quantum unit by using photonics. The numbers are striking: • Chemical accuracy of 0.00146 Hartree for H2 molecules • No error correction needed • 48 iterations vs traditional systems' hundreds • 5x faster convergence than previous approaches Think of it as the difference between building with individual blocks (qubits) versus using pre-fabricated sections (qudits). Why this matters for investors: 1. Resource efficiency = lower operational costs 2. Scalability without the error cascade nightmare 3. Room temperature operation = practical deployment The quantum-AI race in chemistry is finally heating up 🏎️🏁 • AI can handle 100k atoms but struggles with quantum precision • Quantum systems nail accuracy but only for smaller molecules • Hybrid approaches could bridge this gap This is where the next wave of quantum products may emerge - at the intersection of classical AI and quantum advantages. For LPs, angels and VCs looking at quantum in their portfolios: watch the hybrid plays. AI alone may be too resource intensive to advance much further in these areas. Quantum solutions are just getting started. The future isn't necessarily binary anymore - it may be hybrid. Just like these qudits. #QuantumComputing #DeepTech #VentureCapital #FutureOfComputing #AI Thoughts? 🤔