Improving solar panel recyclability with lasers
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed a proof of concept for a method to remove polymers from solar panel manufacturing to enable more efficient recycling.
First silicon solar cell celebrates 70th birthday
On April 25, 1954, US researchers presented the first prototype of a usable solar module. The efficiency at that time was around 6%. A lot has happened since then.
TotalEnergies builds 12 MW solar carport at New York’s JFK Airport
French energy giant TotalEnergies has started building an onsite solar-plus-storage system at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. It will provide energy to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Con Edison, as well as community solar for area residents.
SunPower to close business units, cut about 26% of workforce
The US-based company announced plans to wind down its residential solar installation locations and close its direct sales unit.
Solar-assisted heat pumps vs. air-source heat pumps
A group of researchers in Iran has analyzed the coefficient of performance and the energy consumption of a solar-assisted heat pumps and an air-source heat pumps and has found that three factors are crucial to determine their annual performance – irradiance changes, ambient temperature, and wind speed.
NREL updates interactive chart of solar cell efficiency
The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has updated its research cell efficiency chart for a range of PV technologies.
Anker Solix launches residential batteries
The new X1 can operate inside or out, from -20 C F to 55 delivering what Anker says is 100% power output without derating. The batteries are lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) and will reportedly remain fully operational for up to 3,000 charge cycles.
Maxeon sues REC, Hanwha Qcells for alleged TOPCon patent infringement
Maxeon has filed two different lawsuits in the United States against Hanwha Qcells and REC over claims that the two manufacturers used an unspecified tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cell technology.
Neighbors like solar, to a point
Research indicates that most neighbors of solar power facilities in the United States maintain positive attitudes toward these plants until they exceed 100 MW in capacity, or approximately 400 acres.
Johnson Controls releases new residential heat pump series
The new heat pumps use R-454B as a refrigerant and are specifically designed to be matched with Johnson Controls’ residential gas furnaces. Their size ranges from 1.5 tons to 5 tons and their coefficient of performance (COP) spans between 3.24 and 3.40, according to the manufacturer.
