Heterojunction solar cell with 25.18% efficiency, 85.42% fill factor
Researchers in China have fabricated a heterojunction solar cell with a 244.63 cm2 Czochralski n-c-Si wafer. They used light soaking to improve the dark conductance of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon films.
Upcycling silicon waste from end-of-life solar panels into thermoelectrics
Researchers in Singapore have developed a new technique in which polycrystalline silicon is pulverized into powder and pelletized into ingots. The process relies on spark plasma sintering to dope the silicon with germanium and phosphorus.
Bifacial solar modules shine in snowy environments
Snow losses could be cut from double digits to just 2% on an annual basis by using bifacial solar modules instead of monofacial panels, according to researchers at Western University in Canada.
Photovoltaic sanitary water heater from Belgium
Belgian heating specialist Wanit has developed a solar water heater that purportedly reduces the cost of domestic hot water by 85%. The PV water heater solution includes a main dual tank and a solar connector that links the tank with a rooftop PV system and residential battery.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: China’s cumulative PV capacity tops 322 GW
In other news, Zhonghuan Semiconductor announced it will begin selling 210 mm n-type wafers and the local government in Zhejiang Province said it wants to deploy another 12.4 GW of new PV by 2024.
EBRD due diligence efforts highlight importance of supply chain transparency
Evidence of the extent to which the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investigating public allegations made against PV manufacturers has been highlighted in its due diligence processes. As a multilateral financial institution supporting renewable projects in many countries, smaller banks may mirror the EBRD’s efforts. pv magazine spoke with PI Berlin Managing Director Asier Ukar about the current state of solar supply-chain traceability systems.
Novel mounting structure for PV systems on thermoplastic polyolefin roofs
Mibet has developed a new PV mounting structure made of stainless steel and aluminum, providing a perfect match between TPO fixing supports and trapezoidal metal rooftops. The apparatus includes a rail, two clamp kits, a support kit, the TPO roof fixing support, and a TPO cover plate.
Romania to host integrated ingot, cell, PV module production
Hungary’s Astrasun has announced plans to set up a 1.8 GW wafer factory in Romania, as well as cell and module production facilities with capacities of 1.5 GW and 1.2 GW, respectively.
Huawei, SolarEdge settle patent litigation lawsuits
Huawei and SolarEdge have settled all of their pending lawsuits in Germany and China through a global patent license agreement.
Waaree secures $2.37 billion of orders for 5 GW of bifacial PV modules
Indian solar manufacturer Waaree Energies has secured domestic and international orders to supply 5 GW of its bifacial 540 Wp and 600 Wp solar panels.
