‘The first terawatt of solar PV installed globally took some 70 years to achieve, while the second will likely take only three’
Leading solar researchers from around the world are meeting for the first time in four years in Milan, Italy, for the 8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-8). The first morning has seen prestigious awards bestowed on two scientific leaders and inspirational discussions as to how the “second terawatt” of solar can be installed globally in just a handful of years.
Solliance hits 30.1% efficiency on perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell
The Solliance consortium achieved a 29.2% record efficiency for the solar cell in November 2021, from just 28.7% in March 2020. In recent months, it increased the perovskite cell for the tandem device from 17.8% to 19.7%.
The weekend read: A year of solar uncertainty in the US
The supply of PV modules to the United States has been challenged by potential tariffs on goods shipped from four Southeast Asian nations that provide 80% of US solar panels. The disruption stems from an ongoing investigation into allegations of antidumping violations. US President Joe Biden has halted tariffs related for two years, but challenges still loom, reports pv magazine USA’s Ryan Kennedy.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Eging to set up 10 GW of TOPCon solar panel production
Eging PV has signed a deal to build a 10 GW TOPCon solar module factory in Anhui province, while Tongwei has revealed plans to build a 25 GW cell factory in Jiangsu. Jolywood, meanwhile, has completed the first 4 GW phase of its 8 GW TOPCon cell factory in Shanxi province.
MXenes-based perovskite solar cell achieves 23.66% efficiency
A UK-Chinese research group claims to have achieved remarkable efficiency and stability for a solar cell based on an electron transport layer doped with two-dimensional titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx). The champion cell has an efficiency of 23.66%, an open-circuit voltage of 1.095 V, a short-circuit current of 25.07 mA/cm2, and fill factor of 83.18%.
Envelon opens BIPV solar module factory in Germany
Envelon’s new manufacturing facility will be able to produce up to 300,000 square meters of facade solar modules.
IEA PVSP predicts high-cost, low-revenue scenario for solar recycling
A recent report by the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVSP) reviews the current regulatory and industrial landscape for end-of-life PV management in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, and the United States.
Reliance New Energy invests in US perovskite solar startup Caelux
The new energy unit of Reliance Industries has signed an agreement to acquire a 20% stake in California-based perovskite solar startup Caelux for $12 million.
Navitas unveils 605 W monocrystalline PERC solar module
The Indian solar manufacturer has unveiled the 60 5 W Bonito Max panel featuring 156 half-cells and a 10-busbar design. The new product has a power conversion efficiency of up to 21.64%.
Prospects for Ruddlesden–Popper perovskite solar cells
A research group in the Netherlands has analyzed different manufacturing techniques for two-dimensional Ruddlesden–Popper perovskite solar cells. These cells offer improved photostability and environmental stability compared with their three-dimensional counterparts.
