Solar Technology & PV R&D News

The South African utility is seeking deals for the supply of 1,383 320 W polycrystalline modules and installing structures, to be used for the construction of 4 off-grid PV projects at its proving ground.

Japanese researchers have recognized a perovskite material with a strong band edge gap and high stability which they say might offer 38.7% efficiency if utilized in the right tandem cell architecture.

Researchers at Rice University in the U.S. have actually carried out explores lithium-ion batteries utilizing silicon as an anode product and made an unexpected discovery relating to an aluminum oxide passivation layer at the cathode. The finding might open up a new path toward much better performing lithium-ion batteries.

Australian scientists have established a nonflammable electrolyte for potassium and potassium-ion batteries, for applications in next-generation energy-storage systems beyond lithium innovation.

In truth, a specially created photovoltaic cell might create up to 50 watts of power per square meter under ideal conditions in the evening, about a quarter of what a traditional solar panel can create in daytime, according to an idea paper by Munday and graduate student Tristan Deppe.

The effectiveness of the solar cell, which is made with a basic M2 wafer, was raised by around 0.7% through an improved busbarless screen printing metallization process based on heterojunction (HJT) processes developed with production devices supplied by Swiss professional Meyer Hamburger.

The proposed model is said to carry out much better at energy prediction than software application tools such as PVWatts, PVSyst or RetScreen. The approach was verified on 2 5 MW PV plants in the very same district of the Indian state of Rajasthan.

A group of Danish researchers has discovered that introduction of manganese into a Na-ion battery’s cathode can improve its capacity and power.

An R&D team from HZB has established a new record for tandem silicon/perovskite solar cells. The cell measured 1 sq cm has achieved 29.15 percent conversion efficiency. The researchers state that the new record of 30 percent is on the way. The achievement has been approved by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.

A group of Hungarian scientists have compared thermal behaviour of various solar modules by means of thermography. Their research has shown that theoretical predictions are not as accurate as they were expected to be.

A new paper published in Nature claims that scientists have reached a consensus on the procedures for the testing of perovskite cells, which they say will lead to better reproducibility and comparability of data produced by different laboratories, and ultimately a better understanding of the degradation pathways affecting perovskite solar cells, and the most effective ways to mitigate them.

The latest study has disclosed that geothermal plants produce less CO2 emissions compared to photovoltaic cells during lifespan.

French water management agency Société du Canal de Provence (SCP) is planning an innovative floating project to test its combination with a solar tracking system. The 250 kW project was awarded a fixed tariff in a special tender for innovative PV projects held by The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) in February 2018. The plant will be deployed on a water surface managed by SCP in Southern France.

Norwegian firm EnergyNest is to deploy its thermal battery storage technology at a manufacturing plant in Austria.

The electricity generated by the PV panels will be used to power the surrounding lighting system, as well as to heat the lane in winter to prevent road slipperiness caused by snow, ice or water. The project is part of a plan by the Dutch government to test the viability of solar power production on road infrastructure.