Research & Development
Solar R&D is focused on improving efficiency, reducing production costs, and extending system longevity. Key areas include tandem and perovskite cell development, advanced materials for encapsulation and contacts, and new concepts in system integration.
Simulation tools, AI-driven design, and accelerated testing methods are expanding research capabilities. Sustainability and circularity targets are increasingly embedded in innovation strategies.
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KIT develops hybrid solar system with radiative cooling
KIT researchers have developed a hybrid system that combines photovoltaics and passive radiative cooling to simultaneously generate electricity, heat, and cooling from a single surface. A prototype achieved cooling of up to 6.5 C below ambient temperature, 60.6 W/m² of electrical power density, and heat temperatures of up to 110.8 C.
DEWA study assesses PV cleaning robot performance and safety
A research from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority have evaluated five autonomous PV cleaning robots under desert conditions. The researchers found cleaning efficiencies of 69% to 99%, while also identifying battery, corrosion, ingress-protection and mechanical reliability issues.
The world’s most efficient solar panel goes on sale later this year
Solar manufacturer Tandem PV has secured nearly $1 billion in Letter of Intent (LOI) agreements for its next-generation solar modules. The high-efficiency panels feature a perovskite-silicon 4T (four-terminal) design. The company sees a clear path to increasing efficiency by 2% annually reaching 37% by 2030.
QBE survey finds DC cabling and plug connections are most common causes of PV fires
A survey by global industrial insurer QBE in Great Britain found that the number of fires is rising nearly twice as fast as the number of new photovoltaic installations. After DC cabling and connectors, the most common causes are solar modules, battery storage systems, and inverters.
Japan’s proposed shading rate for agrivoltaics is unreasonable, says think thank
Japan’s Renewable Energy Foundation says proposals to introduce a maximum shading rate of 30% for agrivoltaic installations is contradicted by existing real-world examples where panel shade has helped to cultivate high-quality crops.
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All Research & Development news
KIT develops hybrid solar system with radiative cooling
KIT researchers have developed a hybrid system that combines photovoltaics and passive radiative cooling to simultaneously generate electricity, heat, and cooling from a single surface. A prototype achieved cooling of up to 6.5 C below ambient temperature, 60.6 W/m² of electrical power density, and heat temperatures of up to 110.8 C.
DEWA study assesses PV cleaning robot performance and safety
A research from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority have evaluated five autonomous PV cleaning robots under desert conditions. The researchers found cleaning efficiencies of 69% to 99%, while also identifying battery, corrosion, ingress-protection and mechanical reliability issues.
Advertisement
The world’s most efficient solar panel goes on sale later this year
Solar manufacturer Tandem PV has secured nearly $1 billion in Letter of Intent (LOI) agreements for its next-generation solar modules. The high-efficiency panels feature a perovskite-silicon 4T (four-terminal) design. The company sees a clear path to increasing efficiency by 2% annually reaching 37% by 2030.
QBE survey finds DC cabling and plug connections are most common causes of PV fires
A survey by global industrial insurer QBE in Great Britain found that the number of fires is rising nearly twice as fast as the number of new photovoltaic installations. After DC cabling and connectors, the most common causes are solar modules, battery storage systems, and inverters.
Japan’s proposed shading rate for agrivoltaics is unreasonable, says think thank
Japan’s Renewable Energy Foundation says proposals to introduce a maximum shading rate of 30% for agrivoltaic installations is contradicted by existing real-world examples where panel shade has helped to cultivate high-quality crops.
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Solar modules with built-in buck converters could raise rooftop PV yield by up to 20% under partial shading
TU Delft researchers found that smart PV modules with integrated buck converters can significantly improve energy yields under partial shading by allowing individual substrings to operate independently. The systems delivered 15%-20% more energy than string-inverter systems and 2%-3% more than systems using microinverters or power optimizers, while potentially supporting up to 50% higher module costs at the same LCOE.
Mass-scale reuse pilot project finds 15% of second-life solar modules fail to meet safety requirements
Researchers in Australia identified two scalable routes for electrical safety qualification of second-life PV modules: silicone backsheet repair and faster parallel wet-leakage testing. A Queensland pilot found that 15% of 2,200 reuse-ready modules failed the wet-leakage test, highlighting the need for dedicated safety screening while modified testing could reduce costs and processing time.
Scandium doping, coating improve cycling stability of sodium-ion battery cathodes
Researchers have compared bulk scandium doping and surface scandium coating in a special type of cathodes for sodium-ion batteries. Both approaches improved cycling stability, with the coated full cell retaining 91.2% of its initial capacity after 300 cycles, while structural analyses revealed distinct bulk- and surface-stabilization mechanisms.
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