Solar powered aircraft breaks number of world records as it prepares to land after two weeks in the air
QinetiQ will today bring Zephyr, its solar powered high-altitude long endurance (HALE) Unmanned Air System (UAS) back to earth after two weeks in the air. Celebrating, the company says it has smashed a number of long-standing official and unofficial world records.
Applied Materials announces restructuring due to negative impact on thin film market
Applied Materials, Inc. has announced its plans to restructure its Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) segment, to put a primary emphasis on opportunities in crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar and advanced energy, including light emitting diode (LED) technology. As part of the restructuring, Applied says it will discontinue sales to new customers of its SunFab fully integrated lines for manufacturing thin film solar panels.
Dow Corning and University of Toledo to collaborate on solar research?
Researchers at Dow Corning and the University of Toledo (UT) have signed a memorandum of understanding to engage in collaborative discussions on photovoltaic (PV) solar research and development efforts to help reduce the cost of solar energy, in order to make it a viable and economically competitive energy option globally.
Manz Automation expands CIGS thin film business model under 50 million agreement with Würth Solar
Manz Automation AG has signed a know-how licensing and strategic alliance agreement with Würth Solar GmbH & Co. KG. Under the 50 million agreement, Manz gains exclusive rights to the use to Würth Solars Copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS) production technology and exclusive access to their research results regarding CIGS modules on glass substrates.
SRC establishes USD$5 million industry-university partnership; PV research center to be established
The Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) has established a USD$5 million industry-university Energy research Initiative (ERI). It will initially address two areas: photovoltaics (PV) and systems and technologies to enable and optimize smart grids.
Imec reports record efficiencies for large-area epitaxial thin film silicon solar cells
Imec says it has realized large-area (70cm2) epitaxial solar cells with efficiencies of up to 16.3 percent on high-quality substrates. Efficiencies of up to 14.7 percent were also achieved on large-area low-quality substrates, thus demonstrating “the potential of thin film epitaxial solar cells for industrial manufacturing”.
Research study aims to analyze economic benefit of solar energy
A major research effort led by Arizona State University is looking at how solar and other renewable energies can help the economy. The project includes tools to benefit homeowners, businesses and the leaders who need to make informed decisions about which power-generation methods to use and where to locate new facilities, such as solar fields.
New Zealand: University of Otago scientists receive major funding to develop next-generation electronic materials for solar power
New Zealand-based University of Otago scientists have gained significant funding from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology to next-generation electronic materials for solar power.
JA Solar and Innovalight sign silicon ink agreement
JA Solar has signed a three-year supply agreement for silicon nanoparticle ink from Innovalight for the production of JA Solar’s recently announced Secium solar cells.
Power decreases in crystalline silicon solar modules as temperatures rise, studies show
The performance of crystalline silicon widely considered a reliable solar module construction declines amid rising temperatures of rooftop modules, according to studies performed by TÜV Rheinland PTL, LLC.
