High voltage mini solar panel converts laser light into electricity
US scientists developed a monocrystalline solar panel relying on “minicells” based on polysilicon on silicon oxide passivating contacts. The module works with laser light and can reportedly achieve a photoconversion efficiency of over 40% and an open-circuit voltage of 7 V.
NREL develops perovskite solar cells with 93% bifaciality
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has made highly bifacial perovskite cells with a front-side efficiency of 23%.
Fire hits industrial building, PV system in Switzerland
A fire hit an industrial building and its PV system in Switzerland earlier this month, but the cause of the blaze remains unclear.
Hybridizing PV, sand storage, solar thermal energy for steam generation
A Finnish-Swedish consortium has designed a hybrid system that uses photovoltaics and solar thermal energy separately to provide steam to industrial facilities. The PV unit is coupled to a sand-based thermal storage system and reportedly contributes to lower the levelized cost of energy of the entire system.
2D/3D perovksite solar cell with record-breaking efficiency of 25.32%
A Chinese-Swiss research group has fabricated a 2D-3D perovskite solar cell with a world-record power conversion efficiency. The cell uses a 2D perovskite layer at the interface between the perovskite and the hole transport layer, which the researchers said can improve charge-carrier transport/extraction while suppressing ion migration.
US manufacturer introduces roof mount with integrated sealant
Pegasus Solar has developed the InstaFlash pre-installed sealant for composite shingle roofs.
Weekend Read: It’s time to get Sirius
In a bid to avoid costly grid augmentation, Spanish electric vehicle (EV) charger supplier Wallbox has designed a multi-layered energy intelligence solution – proving that necessity is the mother of invention.
The Hydrogen Stream: Hydrogen grid could cut Europe’s energy costs by 3.4%
German researchers say gas-grid retrofits for hydrogen transport, combined with power grid expansion, could decarbonize Europe’s economy, while S&P says the global ammonia trade could expand by nearly 10 times by 2050.
New research identifies potential for 51 TW of agrivoltaics in Europe
Researchers in Denmark have analyzed the potential of PV systems and their influence on the underlying farmland in three different agrivoltaic projects, including vertical bifacial optimal tilted, horizontal single-axis tracking, and vertical bifacial setups. They also calculated the potential for agrivoltaic in every region in the European Union and found that the eligible areas are unevenly distributed.
TSUN launches kit for garden, balcony PV systems
Chinese inverter manufacturer TSUN says its new balcony PV kit consists of one or two 20.7%-efficient solar modules, a 96.7%-efficient microinverter, a bracket, and cables.
