Southern Research Institute completes solar research center
The new facility, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is intended to provide key insights into the optimal design of solar PV systems.
PV CYCLE elects international-looking board
The European take-back and recycling association has appointed Luis Torres from SunPower as its new president, with other solar luminaries joining the board.
Chinese-made panels have twice the carbon footprint of European ones, study finds
Research from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory finds that solar panels made in China have a higher overall carbon footprint during manufacturing stage.
IEA publishes new reports on PV performance and reliability
The agency’s first three published reports focus on PV performance and the impact of PV module failure of both crystalline silicon and thin-film technologies.
US scientists study consumer interest in PV
Researchers at the Sandia National Laboratories say the project will help increase the United States’ share of solar energy in the electricity market from its current share of less than .05% to at least 14% by 2030.
Understanding how electrons travel in crystal
In their Nature paper, researchers from Imec and a number of U.S. universities discuss the importance of having crystals larger than 4 nm in the fullerene material of organic solar cells as a way to obtain cells with a maximal efficiency. From their research, engineers learn how to set the deposition parameters of fullerene, but also what they should look for when they select alternatives for fullerene.
Midsummer reaches new efficiency record for CIGS solar cells
The Swedish solar equipment manufacturer says the shift towards more rooftop installations make lightweight and flexible thin film solar cells ideal.
Japan reaches for stars to develop orbital solar
“It would be difficult and expensive, but the payoff would be immense, and not just in economic terms,” says Susumu Sasaki, professor emeritus at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
TÜV Rheinland partners with TRaC Global on new desert climate tests
With an eye on the burgeoning PV market in the MENA region, the testing and certification organizations are bolstering test offerings for PV systems in desert conditions with simulated sandstorms.
Researchers develop 'unleaded' solar cell
Employing tin instead of lead, the new cell may well lead to an environmentally friendly breakthrough in photovoltaics.
