Rocket Lab unveils space solar cell with 33.3% efficiency
The new device is based on an inverted metamorphic multi-junction (IMM) cell technology developed by Rocket Lab’s unit Solaero. The cell can be used in applications in the civil, military, and commercial space markets.
Cybersecurity for distributed energy, inverter-based resources
UL and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory have released a report on cybersecurity certification recommendations and are actively developing new requirements to create cybersecurity certification standards.
Psyche asteroid mission will be PV-powered, says NASA
NASA has said that it will explore a large, metal-rich asteroid with a remotely operated craft powered by two cross-shaped solar arrays.
PV to account for about half of planned US utility-scale capacity additions
The US Energy Information Administration says that over the next two years, 60% of new capacity additions in the United States will be solar or battery energy storage.
IHS Markit: Battery prices won’t fall until 2024
The London-based analyst has published a series of clean tech predictions for the year which also highlighted the rising proportion of sub-5MW solar projects in the global market, and cheaper clean energy financing costs even as panel prices continue to rise.
Spectrum splitters to raise efficiency of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells
Researchers in Canada have conducted a series of simulations to understand how spectrum splitters may raise the efficiency of two-terminal tandem solar cells and have found that efficiency gains may be of up to 6%. The proposed cell configuration was also found to be economically competitive.
Autonomous laser system clears birds from PV arrays
Bird Control Group’s autonomous laser system reduces bird populations in specific areas by more than 70%. In many cases, bird activity has been reduced by more than 99%.
Mitrex releases solar brick for BIPV facades
Mitrex solar facades are being installed on a 7000 square feet area on a building in Canada, producing an estimated 90,000 kWh of power annually.
US coal company launches venture to develop 3.3GW of PV
US coal company Peabody Energy has launched a joint venture with Riverstone Credit Partners and Summit Partners Credit Advisors to develop more than 3.3GW of solar and 1.6GW of battery storage capacity over the next five years.
New US license to bring vanadium redox flow batteries to market
The US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has made a third semi-exclusive commercial license for vanadium redox flow battery technologies, in order to help bring the technology to market.
