Silver prices surge, yet ‘thrifting’ poses little threat to solar cell, module quality
With silver prices nearing $50 per ounce, researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) tell pv magazine that efforts to reduce silver use in solar cells will not compromise module quality if properly engineered.
PV-powered sorption system for atmospheric water harvesting
Researchers in China have built an off-grid rapid-cycling sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting system. Powered by three PV modules, the system was tested with four condensation methods indoor and outdoor.
Standardized testing for indoor PV
Researchers at Simon Fraser University in Canada have proposed protocols for standardized testing to avoid skewed results. The validated recommendations cover procedures for key measurements and the use of the indoor PV reference cell method.
Germany wraps up solar-plus-storage tender with average price of €0.0531/kWh
Germany has concluded a new renewables tender for innovative projects, securing 485 MW of capacity at final prices ranging from €0.0479 ($0.0557)/kWh to €0.0559/kWh
Perovskite quantum dot solar cell achieves record-breaking efficiency of 18.3%
Conceived by scientists in China, the cell was built with an alkaline treatment that modulates efficiently the perovskite quantum dots surface chemistry. The device reportedly achieved the highest power conversion efficiency ever reported for this kind of solar cells.
Cooling PV panels with stagnant water layer
Researchers have developed a stagnant water layer cooling concept and tested it using seawater, tap water, and desalinated water. The panel temperature decreased by up to 8.2 °C, while power output increased by approximately 28%.
Chemitek Solar launches cleaning solutions for agrivoltaics
Portugal-based Chemitek Solar is developing biodegradable cleaning and anti-soiling products for PV panels that share land use with agricultural production.
Scientists develop new floating box array for offshore PV
Researchers have tested a 9 x 11 floating box array for offshore photovoltaics in a large wave flume, under regular and irregular wave sequences. They have placed wireless gyroscopes on three of the boxes, representing the front, middle, and rear positions.
Solar fridges for the developing world
As climate change leads to more electricity blackouts and brownouts, the reliability of everyday refrigeration is at risk. A new IEC Standard, together with solar innovations in Africa and Asia, demonstrates how cooling can continue when power grids falter.
Researchers discover photovoltaic properties in zinc-based film
Research from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has found zinc-phosphate-hydrate (ZPH) films are capable of producing electricity from light. The coating’s photovoltage was amplified when anthocyanin, a natural dye found in blackberries, was added.
