Flexible metal dichalcogenide solar cell with 5.1% efficiency
Stanford scientists have fabricated a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) solar cell that is claimed to overcome the typical issue of this kind of PV device, the so-called Fermi-level pinning. They used graphene contacts to mitigate this phenomenon and achieved a record power per weight of 4.4 W/g.
Bangladesh government signs up for 180 MW of solar electricity
The power development authority has signed 20-year electricity purchase deals relating to four solar projects and has awarded the highest price paid in the country to date for ‘clean’ energy, for an island-based system which includes battery storage and diesel generation.
US bank to lend $500 million for First Solar’s 3 GW fab in India
The U.S. International Development Finance Corp. has offered debt financing to support a 3 GW module manufacturing facility that thin-film PV manufacturer First Solar plans to build in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Deploying solar on curved metal roofs
Midsummer and Medacciai are developing a BIPV solution for curved metal roofs in southern European markets, through a five-year deal.
RTE Energy plans PV module factory for Australia
Australia’s solar PV panel manufacturing capacity is set to get a major boost, as Melbourne-based RTE Energy has confirmed that it plans to set up a large-scale heterojunction module factory in the state of Queensland.
Three vastly divergent US solar deployment projections
The International Energy Agency, S&P Global Market Intelligence, and Rystad Energy have issued new renewable energy projections for the U.S. market that range from a 50% decline to a year-on-year surge in deployment.
Daqo fires up 35,000-ton poly fab
The polysilicon producer is sticking by plans to ramp up manufacturing capacity almost 300% within three years and says it will produce the basic material for the new generation of n-type solar panels.
German development bank allots fresh €49m for African mini-grids
A new foundation set up by KfW will offer grants to attract investment in a bid to offer more than 350,000 people access to clean electricity.
Grid stability and 100% renewables
New research from Stanford University professor Mark Jacobson seeks to remove any doubts about grid stability in a world powered entirely by renewable energy. The latest study models 100% wind water and solar powered grids across the United States, finding no risk of blackouts in any region and also broad benefits in cost reduction, job creation and land use.
‘No limit to the number of mini grids which can be installed in Nigeria’
U.S.-based Husk Power Systems has installed six solar mini-grids in the West African nation and aims to build more than 500 by 2026 with the help of World Bank funding.
