Author
Lior Kahana
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Articles written by Lior Kahana
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell built on textured silicon reaches 30.77% efficiency
Chinese researchers have developed a healing treatment to improve perovskite film quality on industrial textured silicon for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. The approach enabled a certified tandem efficiency of 30.77% while improving device stability.
Sep 29, 2026
Rising air injection rates boost compressed air energy storage efficiency
Chinese researchers have analyzed how different air injection strategies affect energy storage rates and heat losses in compressed air energy storage caverns. They found that a linearly increasing air flow rate can raise the energy storage rate from 85.5% to 87.5% compared with constant-rate injection.
PVT-assisted heat pumps achieve up to 49.3% exergy efficiency in cold climates
Chinese researchers have analyzed a PVT-assisted air-source heat pump system that recovers waste heat from solar panels to preheat incoming air and improve heating performance in cold climates. The system achieved exergy efficiencies of 41.2% to 49.3%, while reducing evaporator exergy losses and suppressing frost formation.
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Solar panel waste silver turned into catalyst for carbon monoxide production
South Korean researchers have recovered high-purity silver from end-of-life silicon solar panels and used it to produce electrocatalysts for converting carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide. The recycled-silver electrode sustained CO production for more than 600 hours, with its rough surface helping to prevent electrolyzer flooding.
The impact of phase change material on rear-side PV heat transfer
A year-long outdoor experiment in Milan found that a PCM-backed PV module had 45.2% lower median rear-side convective heat flux than a reference module. The researchers also found that PCM’s thermal history affected heat rejection, even when its rear surface was at the same temperature.
Ventilator exhaust air, evaporative cooling boost residential heat pump efficiency
South Korean researchers have developed a residential air-source heat pump concept that combines energy recovery ventilator exhaust air with direct evaporative cooling. The system improved COP by 7.3% to 15.2% under hot and humid conditions and could be suitable for retrofitting existing heat pumps.
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Study finds up to 27.1% bifacial PV gain across five Indian climate zones
Indian researchers found that bifacial PV systems can deliver gains of 8.36% to 27.10% over monofacial systems, depending on climate and ground albedo. Higher-reflectance surfaces increased energy yield while reducing lifecycle emissions, carbon payback times, and levelized electricity costs.
Negative electricity prices could favor thermal storage over industrial heat pumps
Researchers compared the two technologies under varying negative-price frequencies, price levels and equipment costs. Their model found that the preferred option depended strongly on the required heat temperature, with storage gaining an advantage for steam production.
Cost-effective pathways for hybrid heat pump retrofits
German researchers have developed a framework for integrating the simulation of a hybrid heat pump system into the techno-economic assessment of sequencing and bundling of building retrofits. A case study shows that the timing of building retrofit measures can significantly affect heating demand and the economics of the overall retrofit.
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