Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

Scientists in China and Canada have developed an additive that forms covalent bonds with the organic materials in a perovskite solar cell, leading to fewer defects and greatly reduced degradation. Cells treated with the additive maintained 98.6% of their initial performance after 1,000 hours in testing. Xlynx Materials, a company spun out of the University of Victoria in Canada, is making the material available for further commercial trials.

Jordanian researchers have developed a method using acrylic sheets to reflect and absorb unused solar radiation in PV power generation. The solution has the potential to decrease solar panel temperature by more than 14% and increase power yields by approximately 2%.

The extent to which PV-powered vehicles contribute to a reduction of CO2 emissions depends on variables such as the carbon intensity of the local grid, driving patterns, and solar irradiation. The market introduction requires technical optimization of the PV, but also of the vehicles.

The German PV testing equipment provider said its new Sinus-3000 Pro line is an ‘all-in-one system’ that can perform power measurements, bypass diode testing, insulation testing, visual inspection, and electroluminescence measurements. It is also offering the Sinus-3000 Advanced line for the testing of perovskite-silicon tandem, multi-junction and other new material cells.

Recom is offering five versions of its new all-black panels, with power outputs ranging from 440 W to 460 W and efficiency ratings of 22.5% to 23.6%. They feature 108 half-cut monocrystalline cells with n-type and back-contact technology.

Hurtigruten Norway. a cruise ship operator, said its new wind-solar-powered cruise vessel will be ready in 2030. It will have a storage capacity of 60 MWh.

A Chinese research team has fabricated an all-perovskite solar cell with a 3D/3D double-layer perovskite heterostructure that reportedly ensures improved charge extraction. The device achieved an open-circuit voltage of 2.112 V, a short-circuit current of 6.5 mA cm-2, and a remarkable fill factor of 81.9%.

The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has identified issues with certain inverters that lack CE markings, instructions in German, or German retailer addresses. The defects render them ineligible for distribution or use in the country.

US-based Runhood has introduced a modular battery design that directly connects to a portable solar array, so it can be quickly swapped in and out of the power bank for off-grid flexibility.

AEG is offering three versions of its new all-black panels, with power outputs of 420 W to 430 W and efficiency ratings ranging from 21.5% to 22.0%. They feature 108 half-cut monocrystalline cells with n-type technology.