Solar Technology & PV R&D News

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.

Lower prices for polycrystalline silicon have turned interest from poly-Si consumption minimization. However, the latest study shows that, with account to modern technologies, slimming wafers can be crucial for cost reduction and is worth attention again.

An author from American research university has developed a new model to define the best tilt angle for photovoltaic modules at definite locations. According to the developer, the innovation can considerably improve the existing solar installation methods.

A scientific group from UC Berkeley (USA) has developed a blue-emitting LED from halide perovskites, the cheapness and ease of making of which make them very attractive for electronic applications.

A group of scientists from China has created an EVA film claimed to improve efficiency of solar devices by about 0.5 percent. This newly developed pure film converts ultraviolet radiation into visible light.

The scientific group from NTU (England) has proven that a wearable PV device can be integrated into clothes. The innovative fabric has been based on µc-Si cells embedded into fibrous textile by means of super-thin copper wire. The newly created material is claimed to keep its efficiency after 6,000 abrasions, 25 handwashing and 15 machine washing cycles.

A Washington State University team has developed a more efficient, safer, and cost-effective way to produce cadmium telluride (CdTe) material for solar cells or other applications, a discovery that could advance the solar industry and make it more competitive.