Herbicide may improve organic cell efficiency by up to 1.6%
Researchers in Saudi Arabia claim to have increased the efficiency of organic PV devices with diquat, a compound used in herbicide. The molecular diquat dopant increased optical absorption and the lifetime of electrical charges when light was absorbed.
Indian reliance on polycrystalline tech production leaves it trailing China
Polycrystalline PV technology, which is seeing its market share tumble on the global stage, still dominates India’s small solar manufacturing base and is emblematic of the R&D shortfalls in the sector, according to a survey of the state of the industry.
New solar window tech with 2.1% efficiency
Researchers in South Korea have fabricated a fully transparent solar cell which they claim has a transmittance for visible light of more than 57%. The integrated device generates enough power to move a small-sized motor.
JinkoSolar claims 24.9% efficiency for n-type monocrystalline cell
The result was confirmed by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research (ISFH).
Vikram Solar launches 505 W module
The Indian manufacturer has unveiled new mono-PERC modules in 120, 144, and 156 half-cell versions with claimed efficiency between 18.34% and 21.02%.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: more manufacturing capacity from Trina, GCL Integration and Eging PV
Plans to set up new cell and module capacities have been announced by the three manufacturers. Trina intends to add 10 GW of cell capacity to its manufacturing site in the Sichuan province, while GCL Integration wants to build an 8.5 GW monocrystalline solar cell factory in the Jiangsu province.
Meyer Burger gets €22.5 million in public subsidies for heterojunction cell factory
The funds come, on the one hand, from the regional government of Saxony-Anhalt and on the other, from the German central government.
Stanford scientists gain insight on polaron distortion in perovskite solar cells
Polaron formation in perovskite solar cells has been indicated in scientific research as a possible factor for making this kind of cell particularly efficient, although the mechanism behind polarons’ action is completely unknown. A U.S. research group has now observed how polaron distortions form and grow.
Manufacturers call for module size standardization
Trina Solar is spearheading an effort to standardize 210mm silicon wafers and modules, aiming to improve production efficiency, supply chain optimization and innovation.
Vsun to build 4 GW panel factory in Vietnam
Through the new factory, the company’s total module production capacity will be raised to 6.6 GW. The manufacturing facility will also have a cell capacity of 2 GW.
