UK scientists build PV redox flow battery with 9.54% solar-to-chemical efficiency
The PV-driven redox flow battery can reportedly achieve a maximum solar-to-output electricity efficiency of 3.11% during a 36-hour period. The system incorporates a 25 cm2 heterojunction photovoltaic device and is based on a neutral pH aqueous iodine-bromine redox couple.
Solar grazing supports healthier soil, food for sheep, says American Solar Grazing Association
Solar sheep grazing helps to create a beneficial dual-use environment, found American Solar Grazing Association in a two-year study conducted at 31 different solar sites.
Fraunhofer develops contactless method for measuring back-contact solar cells
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have developed a contactless method to measure the performance of back-contact solar cells, enabling in-line assessment of key parameters such as efficiency, fill factor, and current-voltage characteristics.
Inverted perovskite solar cell based on ionic salt achieves 26% efficiency
An international team led by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has used ionic salt for the electron transport layer of a perovskite solar cell to improve device stability and performance. Test results showed a 26% power conversion efficiency with 2% degradation after 2,100 hours of 1-sun operation at 65 C.
Solargik unveils platform for AI-powered solar tracking, diagnostics, control
Solargik has announced the official debut of its SOma Pro AI-powered platform for solar tracking and system diagnostics. The company says one of its main advantages is the ability to support smarter, faster decision-making.
Solar technologies at crossroads
Experts set to speak at the NetZero Milan Expo-Summit 2025 on May 15 have told pv magazine that tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) will remain the dominant cell technology in the near term due to ongoing advancements, despite rising competition from back-contact and heterojunction technologies.
PV-driven thermic solar geyser for domestic water heating
Scientists in India have built a solar-powered thermic solar geyser prototype based on a nichrome wire heating rod and a flexible pipe heat exchanger with aluminum fins. The system is designed to generate domestic how water and can reportedly achieve a levelized cost of energy of $0.051 per kWh.
Fujitsu launches residential cold climate heat pump with split design
The Japanese manufacturer said its new heat pump system features a coefficient of up to 5.42 and a seasonal energy efficiency ratio of up to 33.2
Planting turf, clover beneath solar plants can increase soil organic carbon
Scientists have analyzed whether planting turf and clover beneath solar panels can increase soil organic carbon, after measuring the results from a commercial plant in Japan. They tested more than 20 areas in the power plant and found that soil organic carbon increased.
Jolywood’s laser-assisted firing process increases TOPCon solar cell efficiency by 0.6%, says UNSW research
New research from the University of New South Wales have found that the Special Injected Metallization (JSIM) technique developed by Chinese manufacturer Jolywood can considerably increase TOPCon solar cell efficiency. The scientists described precisely how laser-assisted firing enhances cell performance, reportedly filling critical gaps in industrial TOPCon cell optimization.
