Technology and R&D

Researchers in China have developed a model to predict lifetimes of heterojunction (HJT) modules made with ultraviolet cut-off polyolefin elastomer (POE) encapsulant. The approach considers factors such as temperature, humidity and UV irradiation.

Researchers have developed a thermal regulation strategy to improve the performance of inverted tin-lead perovskite tech for all-perovskite tandem solar cells. It has an efficiency of 23.4% and contributed to a 27.2% efficiency in a tandem cell while ensuring stability.

IEA-PVPS is poised to launch a new format for expert engagement. It will include an action group on agrovoltaics, as well as a collaborative effort to match agriculture and solar generation. It aims to unlock the potential of agrivoltaics, optimize land use efficiency, enhance agricultural resilience to climate change, and foster social consensus for solar development.

Swiss researchers have engineered a device that uses solar energy to heat to more than 1,000 C. The technology could make it possible to use solar energy to decarbonize energy-intensive industries that require high temperatures for production processes.

The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge has announced a new set of dates for for the 2025 edition of its unique 3,000 km solar car race across the Australian continent, along with some regulation changes.

Slovakian scientists have developed a novel hydrophobic, antireflective coating for solar glass with a silica-titania thin film as the bottom layer and an inorganic-organic upper layer made of silica modified with triethoxy(octyl)silane. This new coating increases glass transmittance by 7% compared to uncoated glass.

The researchers say the cell has a top perovskite cell with a transparent back contact made of indium zinc oxide and a commercially established cadmium telluride bottom device. They claim the champion tandem cell has the potential to reach a 30% efficiency.

An Australian community group has launched a new guide to help solar developers to improve biodiversity on project sites and build trust in neighboring communities without compromising PV generation capacity.

Researchers from China have suggested to use the so-called improved snake optimizer (ISO) algorithm for maximum power point tracking in PV systems. The proposedly algorithm can reportedly achieve a higher PV system performance and better accuracy than the simple snake algorithm.

Researchers at the German research institute have found that indirect gravure printing for metallization of silicon heterojunction solar cells reduces silver consumption and cycle times to below 0.5 seconds per cell, while still enabling conversion efficiencies of up to 20.7%.