Researchers build 24.4%-efficient perovskite solar cells with room temperature process
Researchers from the U.S. and South Korea have developed a method to make high-quality perovskite films at room temperature. The film was tested in a conventional perovskite solar cell architecture and the result was a power conversion efficiency of exceeding 24%.
East-west rooftop solar ideal for energy communities under net metering
Researchers in Italy have investigated the potential of deploying energy communities based on east-west PV systems and have concluded that these projects, despite their lower energy yields compared to south-oriented installations, show higher shared energy values. They also warned, however, that the presence of a net metering scheme is crucial to make the east-west layout the preferred option.
Perovskite tandem PV integrator secures $4.7 million of US funds
The US Department of Energy (DoE) has provided Tandem PV with $4.7 million in funds to advance the commercialization of the company’s thin-film solar technology.
US startup uses agricultural waste to produce low-cost, safe batteries
US-based start-up SorbiForce uses no toxic products or metals in production of its batteries. It claims its systems are cheaper and safer than lithium-ion batteries and have near zero end-of-life waste.
High-efficiency, all-solid-state sodium-air battery achieves energy efficiency of 86%
Researchers in South Korea have successfully demonstrated the use of free ambient air as a fuel leveraging a sodium-based solid electrolyte to tackle the carbonate issue that has been holding back the rollout of metal-air batteries. Their sodium-air battery cell has demonstrated high efficiency, incresed energy density, and a broad voltage range.
Funding round opens for off-grid solar across West Africa
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is offering grants from $10,000 to $250,000 in the second funding round of the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP) to develop off-grid solar in 13 West African and sub-Saharan African countries. The application deadline is June 23.
IEC lays ground for flexible silicon solar module standards
In its second monthly column for pv magazine, the IEC highlights the research on flexible crystalline silicon solar cells led by researcher Zhengxin Liu, the Vice Chair of IEC Technical Committee 82, which prepares standards for solar PV energy systems.
Study finds excessive row spacing has limited effect on improving PV system performance
Scientists in China have tested the influence of panel row spacing in increasing a PV system performance in a full-scale outdoor PV array experimental platform. They found that larger row spacing plays a limited role in improving thermal convection, observing that solar irradiance and wind speed are the key parameters for optimal PV system design.
Australian hydrogen developer hits purity high in testing
Natural hydrogen explorer Gold Hydrogen says it has uncovered 95.8% pure hydrogen at its Ramsay Project on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula as it seeks to tap into growing demand for the gas as a clean energy source.
Italian startup develops 20.7%-efficient mini perovskite solar modules with 99.6% geometrical fill factor
Solertix claims to have reduced yield losses in cell-to-module scaling by utilizing ultranarrow interconnection of 19.5 μm. It also says the proposed interconnection technique may be used to achieve a 30% efficiency in area-matched 4T tandem designs featuring a perovskite module over a silicon cell.
