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PCM-based thermal battery to store solar power via heat pump
Norway’s SINTEF has designed a heat storage system based on phase change materials (PCM) that can support PV generation and peak shaving. The battery’s container hosts 3 tons of liquid biowax based on vegetable oil and is now beating performance expectations at a pilot facility.
Greatcell achieves 32% efficiency for inorganic perovskite solar cell
Australian manufacturer Greatcell has built a cell with roll-to-roll coating technology. It designed it without a hole transport layer (HTL) and used carbon composite back contacts, which offer excellent electrical conductivity.
IEA-PVPS expects polysilicon prices to stabilize by end of 2023
The International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) recently published a report on trends in PV applications for the 2021-22 period. Prices for polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules rose, while production capacity expanded in China and beyond.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Canadian Solar suspends Shanghai IPO
Canadian Solar has suspended its plans to list shares in Shanghai, while polysilicon supplier GCL Tech has revealed plans to move from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to either the Shanghai or Shenzhen stock exchange. Trina and Longi have both reported solid financial results for the first nine months of the year.
Global polysilicon capacity could hit 536 GW by end of 2023
Clean Energy Associates said in a new report that it expects polysilicon production capacity to exceed PV installations next year.
‘Footstep tech’ for solar module cleaning
Scientists in South Korea have used a triboelectric generator and an electrodynamic dust shield to develop a panel-cleaning system that can be activated by footsteps. They said the system can remove more than 70% of accumulated dust with the pressure of just 12 footsteps.
PV production equipment sales soaring in Europe
According to VDMA, a German engineering association, there are now more orders coming in for German production equipment from Europe than from China. Nevertheless, shipments to Asia remain dominant.
Selenium solar cell with optimized energy bandgap
Chinese scientists have built a selenium solar cell with an alloyed selenium-tellurium absorber, which reportedly reduces interfacial defects. Under standard illumination conditions, the device has an efficiency of 1.85%.
JinkoSolar achieves 26.1% efficiency for n-type TOPCon solar cell
JinkoSolar has set another world record for n-type solar cell efficiencies with its TOPCon technology, this time reaching 26.1%. The new record was confirmed by China’s National Institute of Metrology.
