Holographic film to protect solar panels from overheating
Russian scientists have developed a holographic film based on prismatic concentrators that reduces the operating temperature of solar panels, including thermal-photovoltaic devices. They claim the patented, low-cost technique can even improve PV module efficiency in cloudy weather.
Organic PV module with 12.36% efficiency
Chinese researchers have taken a quaternary approach to fabricate a module with an area of 19.34 cm2, a geometrical filling factor of 95.5%, and an efficiency of 12.36%.
Wacker reports slight revenue growth for polysilicon business
The German polysilicon manufacturer reported higher sales volumes and a better product mix for its polysilicon segment.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: A new module factory, increasing wafer prices
Eco Green Energy is building a 1 GW panel factory in the Jiangsu Province. Longi announced higher wafer prices for April.
URE Corp wants to begin TopCon solar cell production this year
The Taiwanese cell and module manufacturer claims to have achieved a 23.5% efficiency for its TopCon solar cell.
New optical coating could extend lifetimes of solar cells
U.S. researchers are collaborating on the development of optical coatings that could extend the lifetimes of PV cells.
GCL prepares the decks to announce thumping losses
The board’s explanation for an anticipated $900 million hit in 2020, following a profit a year earlier? ‘The figures for 2019 were deceptive.’
Flexible perovskite quantum dot solar cell with 15.1% efficiency
An international research team has developed a PV cell with all-inorganic cesium-lead iodide (CsPbI3) perovskite. The scientists added phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), one of the best electron acceptors in organic PV cells, into the CsPbI3 quantum dot layer.
The weekend read: Unprecedented plans and investments in Chinese PV production capacity
“Unprecedented” was a term widely used in 2020, as the world grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic. The same word can be similarly applied to the plans and investments in production capacity announced by Chinese PV manufacturers right across the supply chain. But what shape are these expansions taking and what is driving this renewed confidence? Vincent Shaw reports from Shanghai.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: New polysilicon deal, more cell and module capacity
Xinte Energy has secured a supply contract for 152,400 metric tons of polysilicon. Talesun and Longi are both expanding their respective cell capacities by 5 GW.
