Technology and R&D

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.

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.

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.

Researchers from Japan’s Riken Center for Emergent Matter Science have fabricated an organic solar cell that has achieved waterproofness without reducing flexibility. At 3 micrometers thick, it is thought to be the first cell of its kind to survive a washing machine cycle and retain efficiency after multiple cycles.

Scientists from the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) have developed a highly oxygen-deficient perovskite for protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs), while the European Commission has approved its fourth Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI).

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that a strong polar jet stream and a record-breaking heat dome in May resulted in a stark contrast in irradiance patterns across North America. The western and central USA, along with Mexico, experienced higher than normal irradiance, while the Gulf and East Coast regions faced lower irradiance.

U.K.-based indoor PV specialist Lightricity and Japanese capacitator manufacturer Nichicon have developed a PV-powered Bluetooth switch to remotely control home or office equipment, such as lighting, sliding doors, or appliances.

TBEA has developed new products with nominal power ratings of 75 kW to 110 kW and efficiencies of 98.6%. Their European efficiency rating is 98.4%.

FTC Solar has developed a hail stow strategy that positions solar modules to minimize the impact of hail and wind, based on a collaboration with VDE Americas.

An Indian-US research team has fabricated a four-terminal perovskite-cadmium telluride tandem solar cell by utilizing a highly conductive and sputtered transparent electrode to increase the current density of the bottom cell. The tandem device combines a 18.3%-efficient top perovskite cell and a 19.53%-efficient cadmium telluride bottom device.