The weekend read: Cloud looms over PV’s silver lining
Should heterojunction solar technologies be temporarily shelved? Could copper plating replace screen-printed silver conductive surfaces in cells? Why are tandem cells a likely successor to PERC? Brett Hallam recently sat down with Natalie Filatoff in Sydney to explain the findings of a new study by UNSW that sought to answer these controversial questions.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Solar module prices drop for the first time in the past six months
Furthermore, polysilicon manufacturer Daqo will increase investments in its plans to expand capacity and Canadian Solar closed a strategic co-operation agreement with battery giant CATL.
Semi-transparent solar module for greenhouse applications
Manufactured by scientists in Italy, the 3.88%-efficient organic solar panels are able to filter the light from the roofs of greenhouses. They are also capable of supplying a portion of the electricity required to power the greenhouse’s temperature and humidity sensors.
ITRPV: More work needed to process 210mm wafers
In an update to its annual International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics, German engineering association VDMA discusses the readiness level for various technologies in PV cell and module manufacturing, finding that more process development is needed for 210mm wafers – the largest format currently on the market – to match the throughputs that will soon be achievable with smaller formats including 182mm.
US International Trade Commission says that Section 201 tariffs should be extended
The issue now moves to President Joe Biden who will decide whether or not to extend the tariffs beyond their February 2022 expiration.
Hunting the sun with Harris hawks optimization algorithm
An Iranian-Canadian-based research group has conceived a nature-inspired algorithm to estimate the model parameters of PV systems. The proposed tool mimics the exploring, exploiting and attacking strategy of the Harris hawk, a bird of prey species that cooperates when hunting.
Ultra-thin 2D perovskite solar cell with 18.3% efficiency
The solar cell was built with a layer of organic cations between the iodide on top, and lead on the bottom enhanced interactions between the layers. Its creators designed the device after they discovered that, when the sunlight hits a 2D perovskite, it contracts the space between atomic layers in the material.
Spanish start-up offers flexible kit for balcony solar power generation with SunPower modules
The kit consists of one or two modules, a microinverter, and a five-meter cable. Thanks to its plug-in technology, it can be connected to any electrical outlet and immediately begin generating electricity.
Korean research institute claims 12.2% efficiency world record for flexible CTZS solar cell
Korean manufacturer SolarFlex Ltd will now seek to bring the solar cell to commercial production.
Tata Power to set up 4 GW vertically integrated solar factory in India
The Indian company is planning to invest INR 3,000 crore ($403 million) in the new manufacturing facility.
