Researchers in China have used an argon plasma polishing pre-treatment (APP) to remove surface defects and increase passivation effectiveness in perovskite solar cells. The result is a perovskite device with a 2D interface that significantly improves stability and performance. 

New research from Hong Kong confirms that rooftop PV systems significantly contribute raise daytime temperatures in urban environments. The scientists explained that, although their findings highlight important urban resilience considerations, they should not detract from the broader benefits of PV systems for energy sustainability and carbon reduction.

JinkoSolar led global PV module shipments in 2024, followed by JA Solar, Longi, Canadian Solar and Trina Solar, according to Wood Mackenzie. The research firm notes a growing shift toward full vertical integration among top manufacturers.

Chinese scientists hit 24.6% efficiency with a two-terminal perovskite-CIGS tandem cell by adding D-homoserine lactone hydrochloride (D-HLH) to the perovskite precursor, marking one of the highest reported performances for the technology.

Scientists in India have designed a new soiling chamber that is capable of emulating the soiling conditions of a given geographical location in a shorter time frame, hosting larger panels compared to conventional setups. The new chamber can be used to estimate soiling losses and cleaning costs for potential solar power plant sites, to improve existing soiling models, to investigate how factors like tilt angle affect soiling, and to evaluate the effectiveness and durability of anti-soiling coatings.

The UK-based heating solutions provider has developed a pre-engineered and ready-to-install unit compatible with most of the residential heat pumps available in the market. It can be placed underneath a standard hot water cylinder and transfer heat from the pump via a plate exchanger to the central heating indirectly.

The U.S. heating specialist said its new heat pump system can operate “reliably” at -30 C and achieve 100% heating capacity at -17 C, with full cooling capacity being achievable at 50 C. 

Ivory Coast has opened tenders for 200 MW/66 MWh of solar-plus-storage, seeking proposals for two 100 MW solar parks each connected to 33 MWh of storage.

The U.S. manufacturer said its new heat pump water heater can provide up to 60% more hot water than standard electric water heaters. The system is available in 240 V and 120 V options and with a capacity ranging from 160 L to 190 L.

The researchers said they optimized the low-bandgap inverted perovskite cells through a passivating aluminum oxide (Al2O3) interlayer deposited via atomic layer deposition (ALD), which significantly helped improve device efficiency.