Photovoltaics for refrigerated warehouses
Scientists in China have analyzed the performance of PV-driven refrigeration warehouses and have found they can ensure stable operation thanks to a refrigeration coefficient of performance of up to 2.66.
Pneumatic PV facade with solar trackers
A group of researchers in Germany has designed a novel PV façade using two actuators that allow bending in two directions. The PV functionalization of FlectoSol aims for an energy self-sufficient shading system.
MIT research provides roadmap to perovskite passivation
Research teams have developed methods for perovskite passivation, but there hasn’t been a clear understanding of how the process works. A new Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study provides details on how to passivate the material’s surface so the perovskite no longer degrades so rapidly or loses efficiency.
New copper antimony sulphide solar cell design promises 16.17% efficiency
A group of researchers has made another attempt to design solar cells based on non-toxic and earth-abundant copper antimony sulfide. The proposed cell architecture is the result of the optimization of the device’s layer thicknessess.
Module prices steady as market mulls price hikes
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
REC launches 430 W heterojunction solar module with 22.2% efficiency
REC has developed a new series of residential heterojunction solar panels with efficiencies ranging from 20.6% to 22.2% and an operating temperature coefficient of -0.24% per degree Celsius.
Polysilicon shipments into China fall to lowest level since 2011
Bernreuter Research says the volume of polysilicon shipments into China dropped 28.5% year on year in 2023 to the lowest level since 2011. It predicts that imports could fall by another 40% this year.
Why the EU should avoid PV protectionism
Rather than pondering the introduction of trade measures against solar imports, Europe should be pragmatic about its short-term reliance on Asian panels while moving now to nurture and incentivize a domestic supply chain of the future.
U.S. startup offers solar kit for VIPV applications
Worksport, a U.S. technology company, has announced a protective cover for pickup trucks fitted with solar PV modules. The kit includes a battery and an inverter and is meant to be a portable power source for leisure activities, such as camping, or as a temporary backup to recharge electronics or small appliances during power outages.
New method to repair ribbon busbar interruptions in PV panels
A Spanish research team has developed a set of techniques to repair ribbon busbar interruptions in PV panels without resorting to expensive electroluminescence images. The scientists warned that the proposed approach should not be used with modules that did not pass some basic safety tests.
