Fraunhofer ISE, PTB report just 0.15% uncertainty in PV module yield measurements
An interlaboratory comparison between the CalLab PV Modules of Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt finds the two organizations deviate by less than 0.15% when measuring the performance of photovoltaic modules. The Fraunhofer team says this is one of the most important indications as to whether their analysis is on the right track.
IEC-based technical specifications needed for second-life PV module market
The latest report from the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) says second-life PV modules have the potential to reduce waste and extend the value of solar assets, but their market today remains underdeveloped and requires advances in technical qualifications, scalable reuse infrastructure and supportive policy frameworks.
SALD launches large area sheet-to-sheet tool for perovskite solar pilot lines
The Dutch spatial atomic layer deposition equipment manufacturer has launched a new sheet-to-sheet tool for pilot production of large area perovskite solar devices on glass substrates.
UV testing, solar cell factory inspection now mandatory for Munich Re’s PV warranty insurance
The world’s largest reinsurer has recently introduced stricter requirements for PV warranty insurance to further de-risk insured PV parks and set a higher benchmark for industry wide reliability and production quality.
Jupiter International doubles solar cell manufacturing capacity to 2 GW in India
Jupiter International Ltd has commissioned a 1 GW mono passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cell manufacturing facility in India, increasing its total installed capacity to nearly 2 GW from 959 MW.
Agrivoltaics? Yes in my vineyard
Researchers in Spain surveyed 238 wine tourists in the Murcia region and found broad support for trellis-integrated agrivoltaics in vineyards, with 94% backing solar integration and most respondents seeing no landscape conflict.
Scientists say land-preservation costs should be factored into agrivoltaics’ LCOE calculations
German researchers found that agrivoltaics costs far exceed agricultural benefits, raising doubts about subsidies and highlighting the need for more cost-competitive system designs.
Silver prices forecast to strengthen further this year
The Silver Institute has said the amount of silver used for manufacturing is set to fall this year, driven by developments in the solar sector. The institute also says the silver market will remain in deficit for the sixth consecutive year. Philip Newman, Managing Director of independent research consultancy Metals Focus, told pv magazine the fact prices have recovered quite well after the end-January correction demonstrates the underlying strength of investor interest in silver.
New reflective coating increases BIPV power output by 11%
Australian researchers developed a low-cost reflective coating for semi-transparent solar roof tiles that lowers surface temperatures by up to 20 C and boosts power output by up to 11.7%. Simulations across five global cities showed energy savings of up to 5.85%, highlighting the coating’s strong potential for improving both building cooling efficiency and solar performance in BIPV systems.
Chemitek offers solution for drone-based cleaning of agrivoltaics
The Portuguese company said its new Drone AgroPV Cleaning Agent is scheduled for release in June. It has a safe formulation for crops and soil.
