Solar Technology & PV R&D News

Experience a non-stop world tour with Solar Airship One! This whale-shaped aircraft harnesses the power of solar and hydrogen to fly 25 countries over 20 days with zero CO2 emissions. Follow a team of astronauts and paraplegic pilots on this revolutionary journey.

Discover the remarkable power of MIT's ultralight fabric solar cells- 18x more efficient than traditional solar panels, capturing energy from any surface and resistant to 500+ cycles of rolling & unrolling. Embark on a greener future with sustainable energy generation.

Organic solar cells that can detect circularly polarised light in the entire visible spectrum? Linköping University researchers have made it possible. Now self-driving cars and other uses have become more reliable. Learn how the material's chirality, lightweight design, and simple manufacturing process make it a great choice for small and cheap sensors.

A revolutionary optical coating developed by Case Western Reserve University physicists to extend solar panel life, increase data storage & improve anti-counterfeiting measures. Collaborators from MIT, the University of Arizona & University of Rochester applied findings from Italian physicist Ugo Fano to produce vivid, pure colors. Published in Nature Communications.

Discover the record-breaking efficiency of Fraunhofer ISE's silicon-based multijunction solar cell: 36.1%! Their breakthrough nanocoating design and silicon TOPCon layer stack are perfect for limited-space applications like solar-powered cars, products & drones.

Organic dyes provide virtual highways for energy, leading to light & thin organic solar cells with improved efficiency. TUM research group discovers quinoid merocyanines to increase performance of organic solar cells with fast and targeted exciton transport.

Arizona rural communities are getting creative with solutions to the challenge of safe drinking water. Innovative projects like solar-powered desalination, water treatment systems, and Hydropanels are providing clean drinking water and educating students. Join tribal and university partnerships in securing safe drinking water for all Arizonans.

Discover how a new nanoscale coating of aluminum oxide on metal halide perovskite significantly improves energy output of perovskite solar cells, bringing us closer to global net zero targets. Researchers from University of Surrey, University of Warwick and UNSW explain.

Discover how Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE achieved a record open circuit voltage of >2.8 V in their perovskite-based triple-junction solar cell. Understand how optimizations in interlayers and gas quenching methods enabled this success and how this could lead to more efficient solar energy generation in the future.

Explore the potential of solar-powered vehicles worldwide: researchers find the median extended driving range is 18 km/day/kWp, with Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia the most favorable geographies. Installed capacity, local solar irradiation and urban shadowing all affect potential.

Astronaut Tim Peake backs space-based solar farms, with SpaceX rockets bringing costs down to $300 per kilo. ESA's Solaris programme looks to launch solar panels into space, with UK funding to create energy equivalent to a large power station. However, the technology is still years away from solving any energy challenges.

Researchers from East China University of Science and Technology have developed a new manufacturing process for printable mesoscopic carbon perovskite solar cells (p-MPSCs): replacing metals & vapor deposition with carbon & screen printing for cost-effective production & high efficiency.

This article explores a combination of factors that yields the best predictive correlation with outdoor aging tests. Learn how this information can be used to assess device stability in the laboratory.

Research from NREL shows combining stress tests accurately predicts performance of perovskite solar cells. Findings demonstrate tests including thermal cycling & stressors can predict 6 month outdoor performance. High temp & illumination most critical for accelerating performance degradation. Research a step towards commercialization of perovskite technology.

Researchers from Tohoku University and University of Tsukuba in Japan have made a breakthrough in developing a non-volatile phase change memory using a nickelate material. Discover the potential advantages of this material with improved performance, sustainability and lower costs.