France’s Carbon choses locations for R&D center
Carbon, a French PV module maker, says it will invests €33 million ($35.4 million) in a new R&D center.
Photovoltaics for hydroponic greenhouses
Researchers in Iran have investigated the operation of a real solar-powered greenhouse in the Alborz province and have found that only 4% of the greenhouse’s roof needs to be covered with PV modules to meet demand for lighting and pumping water.
Fraunhofer develops tandem module for direct hydrogen production
Three Fraunhofer institutes in Germany have developed a tandem module for direct hydrogen production, as a modular, flexible alternative to large electrolyzers. PV is an additional power supply.
KAUST builds perovskite-perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with 31.5% efficiency
The Saudi research institute said its new four-terminal tandem device has achieved the highest efficiency ever reported for perovskite-based 4-T and triple-junction tandem solar cells to date. The key feature of the cell is the hole transport layer of the top perovskite cell, which was engineered with self-assembled monolayers.
Belgian wildlife park hosts world’s largest wooden solar carport
Belgian energy company Perpetum Energy has built a 40 MW solar carport at Pairi Daiza, a privately owned zoo and botanical garden in Hainaut, Belgium. It said the total investment reached €40 million ($43 million) investment.
Udinese Calcio builds 1.1 MW PV system on stadium in Italy
Bluenergy is developing a 1.1 MW PV system on Udinese Calcio’s football stadium in Italy. The company said the project might include a 300 kW battery.
Tunisian solar module maker Ifrisol targeting US market
Ifrisol, a Tunisian PV module maker, is targeting the US market by producing solar panels with cells sourced from unspecified “non-Chinese” Asian manufacturers.
How to recycle methylammonium lead iodide from perovskite solar cells
A German research team has developed a new technique to recover and reuse methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) from perovskite solar cells via solvent extraction. Such recycling method can reportedly save up to 61% costs in the lab and industrial manufacturing.
Korean researchers propose new design for aluminum frames used in glass-glass bifacial solar modules
Using a surrogate model for finite element analysis, the scientists have designed an aluminum frame for bifacial modules that reportedly minimizes deflection and production costs, without adding too much weight. Deflection can lead to cracking or delamination of ribbons inside the module, resulting in an increase number of damaged cells.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: January-May installations hit 79.15 GW
China’s cumulative installed PV capacity reached 690 GW at the end of May, according to recent numbers released by the country’s National Energy Administration (NEA).
