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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Latest News
Spacebound silicon
Solar has a long history in powering satellites and space exploration, and high-powered devices based on multijunction PV cells made from “III-V” materials such as gallium arsenide or indium gallium phosphide have supplied this niche market as far back as the 1960s. But those devices are made with rare materials and complex processing, limited to small batches produced at high cost.
Oct 06, 2026
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Six-year testing highlights impact of reduced maintenance on PV plant operation during COVID-19 pandemic
A six-year study of a 12 MW solar plant in Algeria found an average performance ratio of 82.6%, with annual electricity generation ranging from 19.83 to 21.41 GWh. Performance declined significantly in 2020 due to COVID-19-related maintenance restrictions, highlighting the importance of regular cleaning and upkeep.
Spanish researchers test low-height agrivoltaics in vineyards
Spanish researchers have tested low-height agrivoltaic systems at three vineyards, demonstrating electricity generation with negligible impacts on grape production. The systems achieved land equivalent ratios of 1.16 to 1.53, highlighting their potential to improve land-use efficiency.
Scientists develop air-source heat pump system for broiler houses
Researchers in Turkey have tested an air-source heat pump for heating commercial poultry houses, combining experimental measurements with numerical simulations. The system reduced annual heating costs by approximately 44% compared with conventional coal-fired heating.
Lead-acid battery pilot switched on at Australian university testing facility
New Zealand-based energy storage company ArcActive, in collaboration with Origin Zero, has switched on its lead-acid battery system pilot connected to Deakin University’s 7.25 MW microgrid and Origin’s virtual power plant.
New image dataset aims to improve AI-based navigation of PV cleaning robots
Researchers have created a dataset of 6,200 solar panel images designed to support AI-based navigation of cleaning robots. The dataset features annotated panel reference lines under clean, synthetically soiled, and laboratory contamination conditions, with the aim of helping developers assess the robustness of visual navigation algorithms.
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All Research & Development news
Report: PV poised to become mainstream source of energy in Sunbelt countries
According to a new report, Sunbelt countries – those located within +/- 35° latitude around the equator – constitute an immense opportunity for photovoltaics (PV) to become mainstream by 2020; by 2030 they could develop into a major electricity source.
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Research: US to face challenges in reaching aggressive solar energy targets
U.S. states and utilities are likely to face a number of challenges in meeting aggressive solar energy targets, according to Ryan Wiser, co-author of a new study issued from the U.S. Department of Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).
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