New passivation strategy paves the way for lead-free perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells
Scientists in Japan have developed a lead-free tin sulfide solar cell that is intended for applications in tandem perovskite-silicon PV devices. Through a new passivation technique based on the use of phenylsilane (PhSiH3) as a reducing agent, they were able to considerably increase the cell efficiency compared to a reference device with no PhSiH3 treatment.
Ocean Sun completes 270 kW off-grid floating PV system at Spanish port
Norwegian floating solar specialist Ocean Sun has deployed a 270 kW system based on its novel membrane technology at the saltwater port of Tazacorte on La Palma, one of Spain’s Canary Islands.
First Solar closes $700 million in tax credit transfer sales
US module manufacturer First Solar has closed the sale of US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits.
Make PV modules as cheap as possible, but not cheaper
In a new monthly column for pv magazine, the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) explains how reducing glass thickness in PV modules may fracture the solar industry, impacting PV module and PV tracker suppliers, engineering, product and construction companies, and PV plant owners.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Akcome sets up pilot factory for perovskite PV cells
Akcome says it hopes to soon start commercial production of its heterojunction (HJT) perovskite solar cells, but it has yet to provide a specific time frame.
Italian startup unveils 350 W balcony TOPCon solar modules
Fly Solartech Solutions Srl’s new 60-cell modules have a power conversion efficiency of 17.87% and a temperature coefficient of -0.27% per degree Celsius. The company offers the panels with 300 W, CEI-021-certified microinverters featuring 96.5% peak efficiency.
Solar-assisted heat pump for biomass drying
Scientists from Finland have built an experimental system that allows the drying of woody biomass with solar thermal energy and a heat pump. They claim PV may play a complementary role in the proposed setup.
Researchers apply thresholding to PV soiling image analysis
Thresholding methods have commonly been used to characterize the soiling accumulated on glass coupons. Researchers led by the Sapienza University of Rome have identified 16 automatic thresholding methods that may be used for analyzing soiling on PV panels.
Novel tin selenide solar cell design promises 36.45% efficiency
Tin selenide solar cells have so far reached limited efficiencies in real applications. Bangladeshi scientists claim to have found a way to drastically improve their performance by adding a copper/indium/selenium (CIS) thin-film layer and a back surface field (BSF) layer.
Solar module prices in India ‘likely to remain subdued in the near term’
Vikram V, vice president and co-group head of corporate ratings at Indian investment information and credit rating agency ICRA Ltd, speaks to pv magazine about falling solar cell and module prices, the impact on Indian pv manufacturers, and the way forward.
