Creative thinking for vertical east-west bifacial PV projects
A Finnish-Norwegian research group has assessed the global potential of vertical east-west bifacial PV (VBPV) projects and found that these installations may provide a low LCOE at Nordic latitudes, in Central Europe and subtropical desert areas. The researchers also found that residential and commercial VBPV systems are a grid-friendly solution for low-voltage networks when compared […]
MIT scientists develop PV cleaning system based on electrostatic repulsion
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a system that can be operated at a voltage of around 12V, with a 95% recovery rate for lost power after cleaning. The waterless system can be operated automatically via an electric motor. Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a lab-scale solar module […]
Chinese PV Industry Brief: 50 GW plan for rooftop, BIPV
Elsewhere, Wafer manufacturer Shangji Automation has secured a long-term wafer supply agreement from cell maker Aiko Solar and wafer maker Zhonghuan Semiconductor reported record revenue for 2021. Furthermore, GCL-Poly appears to have backtracked on its plan to rename the business GCL Technology The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction (MOHURD) released a development plan aimed […]
Longi releases Hi-MO 5 snow-load test results
Longi Solar has released the data of an inhomogeneous snow-load test. Its results show that its 72-cell and 78-cell solar modules held 1,800 pascals more force than Trina Solar’s larger-format products before breaking. From pv magazine USA Glass is a very challenging material to study. Under minor deformation, its macroscopic properties are reversible, while its […]
Chinese PV Industry Brief: More glass capacity and a 5 GW module factory under construction
Glass maker Flat Glass wants to add 7,200 MT of new glass capacity spread across six new production lines and panel manufacturer Eging PV started construction of a new PV panel factory with an annual capacity of 5 GW. Glass maker Flat Glass announced on Wednesday a plan to add 7,200 MT of new glass […]
Solar foil for BIPV applications
HyET Solar and the Delft University of Technology are developing a photovoltaic foil technology that is claimed to be suitable for any type of surface. The solar foil has a 12.0% conversion efficiency and is based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon and nanocrystalline silicon in a tandem cell configuration. Netherlands-based flexible solar module maker HyET Solar […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]