Researchers from Berlin’s Helmholtz Zentrum Research Institute have developed a silicon heterojunction cell, with an additional crystalline layer that utilizes an effect known as singlet fission to boost efficiency. The team has created a device demonstrating that the principle works, and says that with further experimentation, the concept could achieve cell efficiencies as high as 40%.

Siemens subsidiary, Fluence has announced it will provide an additional 60 MW battery to power company UK Power Reserve, expanding the cooperation between the two companies to 120 MW, which Fluence says makes it the largest contracted energy storage portfolio transaction to date globally.

A new report published by business consultants Frost & Sullivan expects around 90 GW of new solar installations by the end of 2018, in line with the predictions of other leading analysts. It further notes that PV remains the world leader in renewable energy capacity, and that markets are moving away from feed-in tariffs to make increasing use of auction models and private PPAs.

A team of researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) has developed a new process for the production of perovskite solar devices; and reports a 5x5cm² device with an efficiency above 15%. The researchers worked with a 1 micron thick active layer, considerably thicker than in many other perovskite devices, and state that this helped achieve better long-term stability.

The EU PVSEC conference, held this week in Brussels, was filled with bold announcements regarding solar’s trajectory in the coming years; and is backed up by a few announcements of new world records and impressive results from industry players and leading research institutes.

The EU PVSEC conference and exhibition in Brussels began this morning with presentations from key figures in PV development, who celebrated the technology’s achievements so far and predicted even bigger things in the coming years. pv magazine‘s Mark Hutchins was on hand to hear all about it.

A team led by Switzerland’s Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne has developed a low-dimensional perovskite layer it says can be used as a capping layer on perovskite solar cell material, improving stability and water resistance. The team reports a 20% efficient cell incorporating the material.

Japanese electronics giant, Sony has become the latest major organization to commit to a 100% renewable energy target for all of its operations. The company has joined the RE100, a global NGO initiative promoting renewable energy, and plans to reach its target by 2040.

Chinese glass and display device manufacturer, Irico saw total profit for the first half of 2018 increase more than 500% over the same period in 2017, thanks in part to increased revenue from its solar glass business. The company also confirmed that preliminary construction is underway on its 2 GW module factory in China’s Jiangsu Province.

Researchers from the Idaho National Laboratory have developed a new type of electrode for hydrogen production through electrolysis – water splitting. The team has used the electrode to demonstrate efficient hydrogen electrolysis at temperatures far lower than previously possible, which could lead to significant cost reductions in large-scale hydrogen production.