Technology and R&D

Trina Solar Limited has signed a three year research and development agreement with the Australian National University (ANU). The aim is to develop high efficiency silicon solar cells for mass production.

Solar Junction has reached 43.5 percent efficiency on a commercial-ready concentrated photovoltaic production cell. The news comes just two months after it achieved an efficiency of 41.4 percent.

A new survey has shown the number of renewable electricity projects in the south west of England has rapidly increased: photovoltaic installations comprise the lion’s share. However, it says proposed policy changes are risking further growth.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has said up to $112.5 million in funding will be made available to select projects across five years, to support the development of U.S. photovoltaic-related manufacturing processes.

Photovoltaic inverter demand is expected to be “very weak” in the first two quarters of this year, according to IMS Research’s latest market investigation. Germany’s dominance in the sector is also diminishing.

A new material has been discovered in space which, if it can be replicated, could hold the key to previously unimagined PV cell efficiencies.

New Energy Technologies, Inc. and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).

In another “efficiency record” for today, Q-Cells SE says it has reached an efficiency of 14.7 percent for a mass-produced CIGS thin film solar module, which has been manufactured via monolithic integration. This figure has been verified by Fraunhofer ISE.

Ernst & Young has published its updated renewable energy country attractiveness indices. While it says the “toxic legacy” of the financial crisis is ongoing, new investment in clean energy reached “unprecedented levels” last year, having hit USD$243 billion.

The CIGS PV market is poised for a comeback according to a new report, which identifies three markets ripe for development, and discusses China’s potential to take the production lead. However, if it wants to make an impact, it must first overcome its manufacturing hurdles.