PV cell

Inspired by the lotus effect, scientists from Negev-based BGU have examined mechanisms and forces that may be improved to keep dust off solar cells for higher performance. The innovative technology allows removing 98% of the dust amount from panel surface.

The researchers have found out that performance of organic solar cells drops by about a half after a hundred hours of light exposure. They explain the degradation by increasing resistance of OSC layer.

Researchers have introduced a new metric for determination of the highest allowable cost for cell efficiency increase and levelized cost of electricity optimization. The scientists have called this new parameter ‘value of efficiency’.

The latest peak conversion rate over 23 per cent for a large version of n-type photovoltaic cells achieved by China-based Trina Solar has been recognized by German ISFH calibration and test center.

An Italian research team has developed a device that it says can easily be integrated into a PV cell, and can boost its efficiency by converting more light particles into a high energy state before they are absorbed by the cell. The scientists claim that their innovation could offer a green‐to‐blue photon upconversion yield as high as 15%.