Chinese researchers have demonstrated organic solar cells with novel encapsulation and a protective interfacial layer for enhanced stability and efficiency. The best performing cell based on the new approach retained 94% of its initial power conversion efficiency after standards-based damp heat testing for 1,032 hours damp heat and across 200 thermal cycles.

The quality assurance provider reported India-based Insolation Energy, Waaree Renewable Technologies, and Solex Energy retained the top three positions in its Altmann-Z score-based quarterly ranking. Its analysts noted the number of companies with healthier scores increased from 9 to 11.

A Spanish research team demonstrated a broadband antireflective coating for gallium arsenide solar cells. Based on thermally oxidized gallium nanoparticles, the nanostructured coating reduced reflectance by 30% across the solar spectrum, and increased solar cell performance by 10%.

The Italian specialty module manufacturer has launched a new lightweight, semi-rigid, glass-free silicon solar panel reinforced with a thin aluminum sheet for marine, mobility, and other offgrid applications. The series includes products with a power range of 145 W to 205 W.

Researchers in United Arab Emirates have developed a novel model that relies on either the open-circuit voltage or the maximum power point voltage to estimate PV module operating temperature without using sensors.

Japan’s oil giant Idemitsu Kosan and U.S.-based Source Energy Company announced a collaboration to develop copper indium gallium-selenide solar modules and arrays for satellite and space applications.

Tests conducted by a research team in outdoor environments in Spain and Poland have demonstrated a strong correlation between perovskite solar cell degradation and the combined effects of climatic and operating conditions. The scientists found that open-circuit operation accelerates degradation, whereas operation at the maximum power point and under short-circuit conditions has a lower impact.

Researchers at Nanyang Technological University have demonstrated a method to integrate chemically inert low-dimensional interface materials into the fabrication of inverted perovskite solar cells. Their prototype solar cells retained over 93% of the initial power conversion efficiency of 25.1% after 1,000 hours of operation, and 98% after 1,100 hours at 85 C.

Longi Green Energy, JinkoSolar, and JA Solar each posted significant third-quarter losses amid continued price declines and high inventory levels, raising concerns among analysts about oversupply and margin pressure across the PV supply chain.

The researchers have used computational fluid dynamics-based modelling of snow patterns in an effort to establish best practices to mitigate snow accumulation in alpine PV plants.