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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New disaggregation methodology quantifies uncertainty in behind-the-meter PV generation
Researchers in Spain have developed a conditional diffusion-based model to improve the visibility of behind-the-meter PV systems using low-resolution smart meter data. The probabilistic approach enables accurate PV reconstruction with uncertainty estimates, helping distribution system operators better manage grid planning and flexibility.
Three-year testing assesses wind flow dynamics in solar plants
A French research team analyzed nearly three years of wind and turbulence measurements over a 140-hectare photovoltaic park in southwestern France, comparing it with a nearby pine forest to understand airflow behavior above PV canopies. They found that wind direction relative to panel rows strongly controls turbulence and drag, and they developed a generalized wind-profile parameterization to better represent PV parks in land–atmosphere and weather models.
Despite historical failure, cylindrical solar tubes may still find a place in BIPV market, say Japanese scientists
Solyndra’s cylindrical CIGS solar technology highlighted both the promise and challenges of unconventional PV designs, but a new study from Japan suggests that cylindrical modules may still offer advantages in building-integrated applications. Researchers in Japan found that their curved geometry improves cooling, reduces temperature-related losses, and enables more stable energy harvesting under optimized urban installation conditions.
To sell solar, sell the family, support the champion, and mind the timing
Research suggests that a strong predictor of a household going solar is engagement among the family. Solar salespeople should identify and support the “solar champion” as the family works through the details of understanding the new product, found the study.
Dutch student team develops solar-powered ambulance
A student team at the Eindhoven University of Technology has developed what it says is the world’s first solar-powered ambulance, designed to deliver healthcare services to remote communities. The vehicle combines a 50 kWh battery with 542 solar cells, offering a claimed range of up to 715 km on paved roads while powering onboard medical equipment.
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Drive to increase solar cell efficiency underway; results impressive
A team of University of Minnesota-led researchers has said it has cleared a “major hurdle” in the drive to build solar cells with potential efficiencies up to twice as high as current levels, which rarely exceed 30 percent. New solar cell designs are needed however.
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NREL research into potential for solar panels to be installed atop landfills
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is evaluating sites for renewable energy potential on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency. A part of this will involve looking at where solar panels can be installed.
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