Lack of consumer understanding highlighted in solar survey
According to Applied Materials fourth annual solar energy survey, while many consumers are said to be “optimistic” about the renewable energy, there is a lack of understanding regarding costs and adoption rates.
US: New CIGS PV roadmap announced
Three photovoltaic industry executives have been chosen to lead a new U.S. CIGS PV Roadmap. The aim is to create a national plan for the CIGS industry in order to boost its competitiveness.
Kaneka and imec hit 22.68 percent heterojunction cell efficiency
Japans Kaneka Corporation and Belgium-based imec have achieved an efficiency of 22.68 percent on a six inch semi-square heterojunction silicon solar cell using an electroplated copper contact grid. The results have been confirmed by the Fraunhofer ISE CalLab.
Shinsung achieves 20.03 percent solar cell efficiency
Korea-based Shinsung Solar Energy has achieved a new crystalline solar cell efficiency of 20.03 percent. The results have been confirmed by Germanys Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
DSC PV market poised for significant expansion
Key technical breakthroughs in the past year have pushed the dye sensitized cell (DSC) photovoltaic market out of the research and development stage, making it a technology with solid growth potential in the near future.
US to invest up to $25 million in plug-and-play PV systems
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has said US$5 million will be made available for the development of plug-and-play photovoltaic systems in 2012, under the SunShot initiative. Over the next four years, it hopes to invest an additional $20 million.
HHI achieves 19.7 percent copper-contact cell efficiency
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has achieved a conversion efficiency of 19.7 percent on its copper-contact selective-emitter solar cell. This, it says, is a new world record.
Hanwha Solar opens North American R&D center
Korea-based Hanwha Solar has opened a new R&D center in Santa Clara, California. The goal is to develop next generation photovoltaic concepts, with a focus on efficiency and low cost.
Grid parity, but at what cost?
The third annual PV Power Plants conference in Vienna continued today with questions being raised about the hidden cost of falling module prices. Specifically, it was asked what kind of R&D will be able to be undertaken by photovoltaic module manufacturers in a price war?
UK: Solar-power potential of 500,000 homes mapped
At the EcoBuild trade show, opening its doors tomorrow in London, one display will demonstrate a unique aerial mapping technology and method for calculating the energy potential of roofs. Bluesky, the company behind the technology, says that it has mapped 500,000 roofs in the country.
