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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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.
Perovskite solar tested at over 5,000 m altitude
Monochrome will test a perovskite PV prototype at an altitude of around 5,150 meters during an alpine expedition in Pakistan’s Karakoram region. The field trial will assess power-generation performance and durability under harsh, off-grid conditions as the company explores perovskite technology for future BIPV applications.
Aluminum fins vs. oxide nanofluid for PV module cooling
Indian scientists compared aluminum fins with CuO-water nanofluid cooling for PV modules, finding the nanofluid reduced average panel temperature and increased gross power output. However, after accounting for pump power consumption, passive aluminum fins delivered comparable electrical efficiency without requiring auxiliary energy.
Scientists demonstrate outdoor operability of reflector-assisted spherical photovoltaic modules
Researchers in Qatar developed a 450-cell, 0.70 m-diameter spherical PV prototype with a hemispherical aluminium reflector that substantially improves energy capture. The system, however, demonstrates mainly directional/seasonal benefits rather than superior annual yield or economic competitiveness compared to a flat counterpart.
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All Research & Development news
Research: 2010 expected to be "outstanding year" for PV, but 2011 will see a slowdown
The global photovoltaics (PV) market is forecast to exceed 16 gigawatts (GW) this year, said IMS Research, with demand for PV systems predicted to almost double. It went on to say that the top five markets will account for more than 13 GW, but growth is expected to slowdown next year.
Research: Ontario to hit 694 MW of installed PV by next year; could reach 3 GW by 2015
The Ontario photovoltaics (PV) market will reach 694 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity by next year, including 186 MW of Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP) projects, according to a study carried out by Canada-based ClearSky Advisors.
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Professor Green: “I would like to see a date fixed for RoHS-compliance”
Following the news that the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy has called on the European Union (EU) to include photovoltaics (PV) under the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), Professor Martin A. Green has told pv magazine he would like to see a fixed date for RoHS compliance.
Research: New way to funnel solar energy "100 times more concentrated than PV"
Using carbon nanotubes – hollow tubes of carbon atoms – Massachusetts Institute of Technology chemical engineers say they have found a way to concentrate solar energy 100 times more than a regular photovoltaic (PV) cell. Such nanotubes could reportedly form antennas that capture and focus light energy, potentially allowing much smaller and more powerful solar arrays, according to Chinese news agency, xinhuanet.
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Trony to develop solar battery technology
Thin film solar module producer, Trony Solar Holdings Company Limited has signed separate agreements with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to co-develop solar battery technology. The news comes as the company inaugurated its Hong Kong office in the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks.
SunPower awarded USD$1.8 million research grant
In a second round of funding by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), U.S.-based SunPower Corp. is set to receive a grant of around USD$1.8 million from the California Solar Initiative Research, Development, Deployment and Demonstration (CSI RD&D) Program.
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