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.
Advertisement
Latest News
Advertisement
Deep learning model improves PV segmentation in remote sensing images
Scientists have developed a deep learning model that improves PV panel segmentation in remote sensing images, by combining state-space modeling with PV-specific geometric features. The Solar-Mamba architecture outperformed CNN-, Transformer-, and Mamba-based models. Researcher: “It’s the first of its kind.”
Scientists build 31%-efficient indium-free tandem perovskite silicon mini-module via reactive plasma deposition
Researchers have developed an indium-free perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell using a low-damage reactive plasma deposition process to produce tin oxide layers, achieving certified efficiencies of 33.6% for a small-area device and 31.0% for a mini-module.
Austrian scientists testing foldable PV system with dual-axis tracking
TU Graz researchers have developed FLAPTrack, a dual-axis solar tracker that combines higher PV yields with automated weather protection by folding modules flat during storms. The system aims to make dual-axis tracking economically viable again, with reported yield gains of up to 40% compared with fixed-mount installations.
Australia to legally require large-scale data centers to secure new clean energy supplies
Legally binding large-scale data centres to supply their own new clean energy sources of power is one of the Australian government’s official approaches to artificial intelligence, which is expected to be legislated in early 2027.
Advertisement
Advertisement
All Research & Development news
Pilot tests show vertical PV with specular reflectors delivers 51% higher yield
FutureVoltaics’ VectHor5 vertical PV system with specular reflectors delivered a 51.4% higher specific yield than a conventional fixed-tilt reference system in a five-month pilot project in Spain. The company says the technology extends daily production hours and improves the economic value of solar generation.
ISC Konstanz study highlights atomic layer deposition as a superior approach for TOPCon UV stability
Researchers at ISC Konstanz found that ALD-based aluminum oxide (AlOx) passivation layers provide better UV stability for TOPCon solar cells than PECVD-deposited layers, with thicker AlOx films and a thermally grown SiOx interlayer further improving resistance to UV-induced degradation. Testing laboratory and commercial TOPCon cells showed 2–3% average efficiency losses after high UV exposure, while process variations and layer non-uniformities were identified as key factors influencing long-term UV susceptibility.
Advertisement
Chinese scientists achieve world record efficiency of 28.04% for perovksite-organic tandem solar cell
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have reported a perovskite–organic tandem solar cell with a claimed record efficiency of 28.04%, using a photo-transformable TDB molecule to improve perovskite film quality and device stability.
Three-source heat pump system for cold climates
Chinese and Spanish researchers have developed a multi-source heat pump system combining air, water, and ground heat sources for improved performance in cold climates. The hybrid system achieves coefficient of performance values of up to 2.74 and uses an adaptive control strategy to optimize heat source selection across seasonal conditions.
Advertisement
Hydraulic storage proves more cost-effective than batteries for PV irrigation
Researchers in Spain found that hydraulic storage can be more cost-effective than batteries for photovoltaic irrigation systems, while combined storage maximizes self-sufficiency. The study shows that the optimal solution depends on whether the priority is reducing grid dependence or minimizing operating costs.
Sungrow, TÜV Rheinland release long-term inverter reliability testing standards
Sungrow and TÜV Rheinland have introduced corporate standards for long-term PV inverter reliability testing, establishing quantitative methodologies to assess component and system durability while expanding their collaboration on technical standards for renewable energy equipment.
Passive mooring system enables floating PV to track water-level changes
Researchers have developed a passive counterweight-and-pulley mooring system for floating PV that automatically tracks water-level changes while significantly improving platform stability. Laboratory-scale testing and numerical simulations showed reductions in surge and sway motions of up to 71.7% and 65.6%, respectively, while achieving a 75% water-level tracking efficiency.
Advertisement
Advertisement