All-polymer solar cell with 15.53% efficiency via meniscus-assisted coating
Scientists in China have developed an organic, all-polymer solar cell with a special meniscus-assisted coating technique. They claim that the power conversion efficiency of the cell is the highest among solution-printing-based, all-polymer solar cells. A research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has built an all-polymer organic solar cell based on high–quality blend […]
Solar power prices rising with demand
Recent BloombergNEF research shows that corporations procured a record 31GW of renewable energy in 2021, and LevelTen Energy says that growth occurred despite more than a year of price increases. From pv magazine USA BloombergNEF has reported that global procurement of renewable energy contracts by corporations has set a new record of 31GW of capacity. Most […]
Next-gen concentrated solar power now under development
In new studies led by researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the US Department of Energy pursues an energy cost goal of $0.05 per kilowatt-hour. From pv magazine USA Concentrated solar power (CSP) uses heliostat mirrors to direct sunlight into a collection tower, storing heat energy in abundant mediums like rocks, sand or molten […]
Offgrid solar generators for RVs, camping
Jackery displayed its latest portable solar generators at the recent Quartzsite RV Show, which is the world’s largest event for recreational vehicle enthusiasts. From pv magazine USA The Quartzsite RV Show is said to be the largest of its kind, drawing some 750,000 visitors to the Arizona desert each year. On display this year were […]
German consortium develops 19.7%-efficient PERC solar cells made of recycled silicon
Led by German research institute Fraunhofer ISE, the consortium has built the solar cells with 100% crystalline silicon recycled from end-of-life photovoltaic panels. The silicon is recycled through a technique conceived by German specialist Reiling GmbH & Co. KG and the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE […]
Multiple effects of potential-induced degradation on solar module performance
UK researchers have analyzed the multiple effects of PID on 28 modules at an outdoor testing field. The novel approach considered all multiple PID effects through a comprehensive analysis, which included power losses, hotspots, mm-level defects, and the performance ratio. Researchers from the University of York have conducted a standard test on the multiple effects […]
Reversible photovoltaic shade under the Madrid sky
The 8 kW photovoltaic shade was deployed on the outdoor rest area of a commercial building located in the northern part of Madrid. It was built with conventional solar modules provided by JA Solar and a structure made with light galvanized steel profiles for plasterboard partitions. Spanish architectural firm Ignacio Borrego Arquitectos has built a […]
SolarAPP+ permitting software reduces project times in pilot run
The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released a free, web-based platform for automatic residential solar permit approvals. From pv magazine USA Last July, the US Department of Energy (DoE) and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP+), a free software program to automate residential solar permitting. The tool […]
Titanium wires-based anti-soiling coating to improve solar module yield
Researchers in Thailand have developed an anti-reflective and anti-soiling coating for commercial solar modules that is claimed to increase power yield by over 6%. The coating has photocatalytic properties that make the organic compounds adsorbed on the solar module surface decompose, thus preparing them to be easily washed off by rainwater. A group of scientists […]
Sun-tracking tessellated photovoltaic array for use in space-restricted areas
Created by scientists in Korea, the shape-transformable 3D PV system is claimed to be able to increase electricity yield by 60% over a day compared to a fixed flat panel due to the shorter shadow length and the bifacial effect obtained during shape transformation. The proposed system doesn’t need any machinery to follow the sun […]