Solar Technology & PV R&D News

On this webpage, we present the news on solar power research and development. Here you can get acquainted with the latest photovoltaic technologies. The information presented is collected from various online resources and world’s major solar research centers and institutes. Everything related to PV R&D and technology is compiled in one category

LONGi and Soochow Tandem Cell Reaches 35.1% Certified Efficiency

A Soochow University and LONGi perovskite-silicon tandem cell reached 35.1% certified stabilized efficiency in Nature, using a new hole-transport molecule.

Nov 6, 2026 // Technology, Manufacturing News, China, Asia, perovskite, LONGi, Soochow University

Osaka Robot Platform Guides Perovskite Cell to 24.4% Efficiency

University of Osaka researchers built a robot and machine-learning platform that tracks perovskite film formation; a cell made with its settings hit 24.4%.

Nov 4, 2026 // Technology, Software, Japan, Asia, perovskite, Osaka University, machine learning

DGIST Cuts Solar Hydrogen Electrode Coating Voltage to 4 V From 200 V

DGIST and Kookmin University coated a solar hydrogen photoanode in water at 4 V, down from 200 V or more, and report about ten times the photocurrent.

Nov 4, 2026 // Technology, Solar to Fuel, South Korea, Asia, hydrogen, DGIST, green hydrogen

UNIST Organic Tandem Photocathode Splits Water at 7.9% Efficiency

UNIST built an all-organic tandem photocathode that splits water at 7.9% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency with no external voltage, a record the team claims.

Oct 28, 2026 // Technology, Solar to Fuel, South Korea, Asia, hydrogen, green hydrogen, UNIST

ARRAY Adds Aeeris Hail Alerts to Stow Australian Solar Trackers

ARRAY Technologies will use Aeeris hail forecasts to stow Australian solar trackers automatically; SmarTrack starts moving them 30 minutes before hail.

Oct 26, 2026 // Technology, Large-Scale, Software, Australia, Oceania, Array Technologies, software, solar trackers

Optivolt Raises $32 Million for Power Electronics Built Into Panels

Optivolt raised $32 million led by VXI Capital to expand manufacturing of its Power Balancer, which puts module-level power electronics inside the solar panel.

Oct 22, 2026 // Technology, Inverters, USA, North America, funding, startup, mlpe, Optivolt

UNSW Catalyst Lifts Hydrogen Output 10-Fold From Biodiesel Glycerol

UNSW-led team lifts hydrogen output from biodiesel glycerol about 10-fold with a nickel-cobalt photocatalyst that also makes chemicals worth up to US$150/kg.

Oct 21, 2026 // Technology, Solar to Fuel, Australia, hydrogen, Oceania, unsw

Sparc Hydrogen Owners Commit A$1.3 Million to Solar Water Splitting

Sparc Hydrogen gets A$1.3 million from Sparc, Fortescue and Adelaide University to take solar water splitting to on-sun pilot tests in early 2027.

Oct 20, 2026 // Technology, Solar to Fuel, Australia, hydrogen, Oceania, Fortescue, Sparc Hydrogen

SunPower Origin Launches in Europe With 505 W, 40-Year Warranty

SunPower Origin back-contact panel goes on sale in Europe at 505 W with a 40-year warranty. TCL SunPower expects first deliveries before the end of 2026.

Oct 19, 2026 // Technology, Residential, Rooftop PV, SunPower, Europe, back-contact, TCL SunPower

JinkoSolar Reports 28% Peak Efficiency for Back-Contact TAC Cell

JinkoSolar says its new TAC back-contact cell hit 28% peak efficiency without third-party certification; the first TAC module is rated 510 W at 25.52%.

Oct 19, 2026 // Technology, Manufacturing News, China, JinkoSolar, Asia, topcon, back-contact

Saft Starts Solid-State Battery Cell Production in Bordeaux

Saft has started making solid-state battery cells in Bordeaux, France, for aviation and space, claiming up to 50% more energy density than lithium-ion.

Oct 19, 2026 // Technology, Manufacturing News, Storage, France, Europe, Saft, TotalEnergies, solid-state battery

China Sets 24% Record for Large-Area Perovskite Modules

Certified by TÜV SÜD, Chinese-made large-area perovskite modules hit 24.0% (810 cm²) and 22.0% (meter-scale), boosted by SVP processing and Pb(OA)₂ passivation—95%+ stability.

Aug 19, 2026 // Technology, China, Asia, perovskite, efficiency, module, China’s Nanjing University