Technology and R&D

pv magazine is compiling a guide to home solar installations, aimed at those who are interested in installing but are new to the market and want to make an informed decision. We have spoken to associations, installers and industry specialists in major solar markets across the globe to compile best practice guidance and advice that aims to be applicable to home solar installations anywhere in the world. 

Flexell Space is planning to put its perovskite-copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) tandem solar cell technology in-orbit later this year. It has also raised venture capital and signed several collaboration agreements, including a technology transfer with the Korea Institute of Energy Research.

Experts from Fonte Solar, Huawei, and Greener have exchanged solar-plus-storage tips, insights, and case studies at the invitation of pv magazine. In a panel at Intersolar South America 2025, they highlighted the need to understand consumption profiles and customer needs, as well as the technology’s limitations and potential.

Researchers in Singapore have accelerated the weathering of PV backsheets and investigated their flame spread behavior at different intervals. After 6 weeks, they found that weathered PV backsheets show 46% faster flame spread than unwearthered ones. They have also highlighted that current safety standards fail to account for long-term degradation.

Scientists from Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United States have investigated existing back-contact perovskite solar cell architectures and have proposed a strategy to help reach commercial production.

A new test curve for determining solar panels’ breaking point from hail uses a broader spectrum of impact energies and testing products.

Finland-based Lumon has integrated balcony PV modules into a glass parapet, maintaining the facade’s appearance without visible technical components. The first project using the product has already been completed in Finland.

The Estonian home and commercial storage systems come in low- and high-voltage models. The high-voltage option can scale to ten modules, for 100.8 kWh, and a six-module, low-voltage version to 45 kWh.

China’s Kibing Group is looking to develop a solar glass manufacturing facility in Algeria with an annual production capacity of 1.53 million tonnes.

Canadian and U.S. researchers have investigated applying pressure to a 2D hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite to tune the optical and electronic properties to suit photovoltaic applications, light emitting diodes or other semiconductor devices.