Technology and R&D

Switzerland-based Novartis has deployed a 36 kW building-integrated PV facade on its new exhibition center in Basel. The system features 10,680 organic PV modules from France’s Asca.

Photowatt’s new bifacial modules rely on 132 half cells, measuring 210 mm, with power outputs of 600 W to 660 W. The new products will be available from early 2023, with about 40 MW of orders already booked.

ACE Green Recycling has announced plans to build a new plant in Texas to recycle both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries.

A team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Cornell University, and Wuhan University have presented a completely precious metal–free alkaline fuel cell with enhanced performance using a carbon-coated nickel anode. Meanwhile, the Port of Rotterdam has offered to supply northwestern Europe with 4.6 million tonnes of hydrogen by 2030. According to RMI, Europe will import green hydrogen between 2024 and 2030. RenewableUK sees room for hydrogen exports from the UK to the EU.

All the products rely on the company’s 210 rectangular silicon wafer (G12R) cell technology. The manufacturer claims these new products can increase the installed capacity of residential roofs by 5-7%. The largest panel is a 21.5%-efficient device with a power output of up to 580 W and the smallest features an efficiency of up to 21.3% and a nominal power of up to 425 W.

The lithium iron phosphate battery is sold with a storage capacity ranging between 7.1 kWh and 21.31 kWh, a voltage of 192 V to 576 V, and a nominal capacity of 37 Ah.

Follow pv magazine live for the final day of Intersolar Europe 2022 to make sure you stay abreast of the latest news, analysis, techs and trends.

Meyer Burger CEO Gunter Erfurt spoke with pv magazine at Intersolar 2022 about its paXos-designed solar tile technology, and why the Swiss company won’t make the same mistakes as Tesla when it comes to the European market.

Germany’s paXos, whose solar roof tiles were bought by Meyer Burger and unveiled last year, has shown off its new “Beaver Tail” terracotta solar tiles at Intersolar 2022.

The University of New South Wales and the University of Newcastle have revealed plans to join forces to develop and commercialize “world-leading” technology in solar, renewable hydrogen, storage and green metals.