Sharp claims 33.66% efficiency for silicon tandem solar cell
The Japanese electronic manufacturer said this is the world’s highest efficiency for a stacked solar cell that combines a tandem double-junction solar cell and a silicon solar cell.
Hoymiles introduces three-phase solar microinverters
Chinese manufacturer Hoymiles has announced the North American launch of its new inverters, which are designed for commercial and industrial installations.
New survey shows ‘massive’ increase in PV module microcracks
A new study from Clean Energy Associates (CEA) shows that 83% of sites tested as part of a global survey had line cracks, 78% had a soldering anomaly and 76% had complex cracks. The survey involved visual inspections combined with electroluminescence testing across 148 sites in 16 countries.
Inverted perovskite solar cell achieves 25.3% efficiency via interface engineering
An international group of scientists has fabricated an inverted perovskite solar cell that claims both high power conversion efficiency and a promising high degree of stability. A champion cell achieved a power conversion efficiency of 25.3%, with an encapsulated version retaining 95% of the initial efficiency after extensive heat and humidity testing.
Storing renewables with landscaping gravel
Sandia National Laboratories and CSolPower have started researching the use of landscaping gravel as a thermal energy storage medium.
Global PV must grow to 5,400 GW by 2030 to limit global warming
The International Renewable Energy Agency said in a recent report that the scale of the energy transition needs ‘urgent’ acceleration to meet Paris Agreement climate emergency targets. Solar PV deployment, in particular, must ramp up and increase fourfold by the end of the decade.
Atlas Renewable Energy to sell solar plants to Engie Brasil Energia
Atlas Renewable Energy has expanded its ability to fund further plant development in Brazil by selling 545 MW of operating assets to Engie Brasil Energia for BRL 3.2 billion ($641 million). The acquisition will increase Engie’s share of Brazil’s utility-scale solar generation capacity from 3% to 9%.
Scottish lobby group praises plan to install 4-6 GW of solar by 2030
Scottish Renewables, a major renewable energy lobby group, says it welcomes the Scottish government’s commitment to increase the nation’s total installed PV capacity by 4 GW to 6 GW by 2030.
Cadmium telluride solar cells show strong resistance after 30,000 orbits around Earth
Researchers in the United Kingdom have tested the perfomance of cadmium telluride solar cells deployed on the AlSat-1N 3U CubeSat satellite from 2016 to 2022. Their findings show the devices exhibited no significant performance changes, nor any sign of delamination.
Panasonic introduces residential solar kits
Panasonic Life Solutions India has introduced easy-to-install residential solar kits in India. These kits feature BIS- and IEC-certified solar modules and inverters, along with a mobile app-based energy monitoring system for hassle-free maintenance.
