World’s largest solar tree record smashed
With a PV panel surface area of 309.83 sq.m, the solar tree is officially certified by Guinness World Records (GWR) as the largest solar tree in the world.
Double-junction perovskite-tin sulfide PV cell design with up to 28.92% efficiency
An Iranian-Italian research group has simulated a double-junction tandem solar cell based on perovskite and tin sulfide. They said that it can reach an efficiency rating of between 22.9% and 28.92%.
World Bank notes potential for 210,000 mini-grids this decade
The international development entity has already invested $1 billion in local, off-grid electricity networks over the last decade – and attracted a further $1.1 billion in matched funding – and has predicted mini-grids could supply electricity to 490 million people by 2030.
EVA the next supply chain pinch point for solar
With polysilicon production capacity having been rapidly rolled out after last year’s shortages, China analyst Frank Haugwitz has suggested global manufacturing capability for the ethylene vinyl acetate used on PV panels could struggle to keep pace with what is expected to be another record year of demand for solar.
Masdar begins work on 230MW solar park in Azerbaijan
Construction on the project is planned to be finalized by the end of this year. The solar facility will likely supply power to the nearby located Garadagh Industrial Park.
Solar helps Bangladesh to universal access to electricity
A decade on from energy rationing, head of state Sheikh Hasina is poised to announce the achievement of an historic goal which has been made possible with the help of off-grid photovoltaics.
Newer, larger PV plants perform better, while older plants pick up steam with repowering
An American government lab sees utility-scale solar fleets degrading faster than projected at 1.2% per year, while newer and larger plants are degrading at just 0.7% per year. Older plants appear to be getting repowered in year seven, resulting in lasting performance increases.
SunDrive sets 26.07% efficiency record for heterojunction PV cell in mass production
Australian solar startup SunDrive has announced “a breakthrough” in mass production-compatible heterojunction technology, after recording an efficiency result of 26.07% with a silver-free, commercial-size silicon solar PV cell.
Storing renewable electricity with supercritical CO2 heat pump
Researchers in Spain have designed a pumped thermal energy storage system that uses supercritical carbon dioxide as a heat pump and a heat engine. The proposed system is claimed to achieve an efficiency of 80.26% and an LCOS of €0.116/kWh.
India installed 1.2GW of unsubsidized solar in 2021
India surpassed 5GW of cumulative, “open-access” solar capacity in December.
