Solar Technology & PV R&D News

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.

Italian scientific team has developed a new method combining the Hovel model with SMM. The novel approach allows describing electromagnetic radiation in a PV cell more accurately, considering interference effects. The device under examination is based on Ge, InGaAs and InGaP. The corresponding anti-reflection coating can make a cell with 3-5 junctions 50-percent efficient.

Saudi researchers claim to have improved the thermal stability and moisture resistance of such devices by replacing 3D hybrid perovskite with two-dimensional compounds. They used organic compound ethanolamine, which is said to provide better results in slowing down the hot-carrier cooling process.

Global technology giant Huawei is tapping into its telecoms-led, AI and 5G technologies to bolster the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) in utility-scale solar projects.

Researchers in Germany are trialing a host of new processes and materials to develop interdigitated back contact solar cells. A deposition technology named ‘hot-wire’ chemical vapor deposition, is said to provide excellent passivation without the need for treatments such as recrystallization or hydrogenation.

The process of developing better rechargeable batteries may be cloudy, but there's an alumina lining.

American researchers have found new molecules able to make use of the whole visible light range. Rhodium is effective at both absorbing the light and catalyzing the process of converting sunlight into hydrogen. The latter is suitable for usage as climate-safe fuel.

A group of scientists from several Japanese research universities have found new information on where exactly the molecule of chlorophyl f is located and how it works. The research was conducted to better understand the photosynthesis process in order to be able to apply this knowledge practically, including solar industry.

Researchers in Korea have suggested a layout for bonding and dividing that's believed to provide increased efficiency. The number of palms optimized to five cells for branch has been 171 and 128. Five provide power conversion efficiency of 17.346percentage and three 16.855%.

Scientists at Switzerland’s University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil have demonstrated an aluminum conversion process which could be valuable for long-term renewable energy storage. Simulations suggest that by employing the process, a new multi-family building in Switzerland could meet all its energy demand from a 7-11 kWp solar system.

European research group Solliance says its perovskite modules have passed three key industry standard reliability tests: Light soaking, damp heat and thermal cycling. The group said it is the first time perovskite modules of that size have achieved such results and represents a milestone in the technology’s move toward commercialization.

A research has been conducted to select the optimal math model for prediction of photovoltaic panel performance in different ambient conditions.

The 3 millimeter thick module has an 802 sq cm area. The weight of the panel has been decreased via an ultrathin glass substrate, while conversion rate has been increased by an ink-jet coating technology.