LCOE from large scale PV fell 4% to $50 per megawatt-hour in six months
Analysts at Bloomberg New Energy Finance say the lowest-cost projects financed in Australia, China, Chile and the UAE in the last six months hit a levelized cost of energy of just $23-29/MWh and the best solar and wind projects will produce electricity for less than $20/MWh by 2030.
Mini perovskite module with 18.13% efficiency
Scientists from Singapore have developed semi-transparent perovskite solar cells that can be easily integrated into a range of urban contexts, including building facades, gates and windows. The 21cm2 mini panels are made of perovskite solar cells based on methylammonium lead iodine (MAPbI3), with an efficiency of 20.28% for 0.16 cm2.
Covid-19 weekly briefing: Merchant solar developers could seek shelter in return to subsidies and PPAs are being revisited, but at least the Irish are coping with lockdown measures
The unfolding effects of the Covid-19 crisis, and fears of a possible second wave, have split analysts trying to guess how the unsubsidized renewables market will emerge as slumping demand continued to distort power markets. pv magazine rounds up the week’s coronavirus developments.
Covid-19 disruption leaves indebted Chinese manufacturer in limbo
Debt-saddled GCL-Poly’s attempts to renegotiate $809 million of defaulted borrowings have been held up because of the coronavirus crisis unfolding in Europe, where one lender is based. Shareholders are due to vote tomorrow on a project sale which could generate $153 million of benefits.
The week in perovskites
As a focus of research at leading institutes the world over, new developments in the perovskite field come thick and fast almost every week. From x-ray observations on a nanoscale to financing and plans for mass production, pv magazine is bringing together some of the most exciting developments of recent weeks.
Solar costs set to continue falling according to ITRPV roadmap
The 11th edition of the German document which tracks solar price falls and efficiency improvements has considered the role bigger wafers are playing in cost reduction.
Ministry representative says Polish solar manufacturers could benefit from Covid-19 disruption to take market share from Chinese rivals
The Polish solar industry is reportedly planning an offensive to claim a bigger slice of the domestic PV market. The idea was apparently floated by the head of a private renewable energy body.
Single‐walled carbon nanotubes for more efficient III‐V solar cells
Russian researchers have improved the efficiency of a thin-fim GaAs‐based solar cell by 0.9% by applying single‐walled carbon nanotubes as the topmost layer. The cell also showed a slight increase in the short circuit current density, from 16.9 to 17.9 mA/cm2.
Amerisolar plans new 200 MW solar panel factory in Brazil
Chinese manufacturer Amerisolar and Brazilian energy company Nova Renováveis are planning to set up a 200 MW solar module manufacturing facility in Belo Horizonte, in the Minas Gerais state.
TÜV Rheinland confirms 515.8 W output for Trina’s new modules
Trina Solar has been producing its 500 W modules in series for a month now and plans to increase their output to more than 600 W in the future.
