Modules & Upstream Manufacturing

Visaka Industries’ patented Atum solar roof is reportedly able to reduce building temperatures by up to 40%.

An international research group has reconstructed the trajectory of p-type wafers in the heterojunction solar cell segment and has identified the lack of knowledge about boron-oxygen related light-induced degradation (BO-LID) as the main cause for the limited adoption of these wafers and the success of their n-type counterparts. According to the scientists, however, there is still big room for improvement for p-type technologies in heterojunction cells.

Solar module prices fell despite supply chain pressures, rising shipping costs, and increased materials costs.

The system is reportedly able to refill about eight hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, each in three minutes. It is also able to supply electric power by using hydrogen produced with renewable energy within the station.

Scientists in China worked with nickel-oxide as a charge transport layer in a perovskite solar cell, and were able to overcome several of the performance challenges associated with this material through careful surface engineering. Using this approach, the group fabricated an inverted perovskite solar cell measuring 156×156 mm that achieved 18.6% efficiency, along with ‘remarkable’ stability, according to its designers.

UK researchers have demonstrated a photovoltaic thermal panel that utilizes an MXene/water nanofluid for heat transfer. They said the nanofluid is not only able to improve the thermal and electrical performance of the panel, but also to reduce its size by 14.5%.

A successful initial public offering on the Istanbul stock exchange this year proved that a business model with an emphasis on solar cell and module manufacturing outside of China or Southeast Asia can find the backing of institutional investors. The landmark finance deal gives fresh shine to the ongoing discussions about the chances of re-establishing the crystalline silicon solar value chain in Europe.

The German PV equipment manufacturer said it will discontinue all activities in the CIGS thin-film area after writing off €23.2 million due to a failed fab project in China.

In other news, JinkoSolar is seeking to raise CNY 10 billion ($1.48 billion) to finance its capacity expansion plans and Trina Solar predicts strong profit growth for the first half of the year.

In October there will be a partial solar eclipse in Central Europe. The Fraunhofer IEE has developed a solution that reportedly enables the most accurate forecast possible of the photovoltaic feed-in power during the extreme event.