Perovskite solar cell based on 3D/2D heterostructures achieves 26.05% efficiency
Developed by an international team including Saudi Arabia’s KAUST and the Chinese Academy of Science, the solar cell is claimed to be one of the most efficient perovskite PV devices based on 3D/2D heterostructures built to date.
The Hydrogen Stream: Luxcara advances 20 MW hydrogen project in Norway
Luxcara says preparatory work for its Bodø electrolysis plant is underway in Norway, with commercial operations set to begin in 2026, while ACWA Power and Snam have signed an agreement to deliver hydrogen from Saudi Arabia to Europe.
Why and where solar PV succeeded in Arab Gulf states
A US-UAE research team has investigated how regulatory regimes impacted solar power deployment across six Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Their findings show that the predominant role of the state is expected to continue.
Floating solar could reach LCOE of $0.053/kWh in Saudi Arabia
Scientists in Saudi Arabia have assessed the techno-economical feasibility of floating PV plants at three different dams and have found that such projects could have a return on investment of 12 to 13 years.
Decision-making model for wind, solar projects in Saudi Arabia
Conceived by an international research team, the model can also be utilized for hybrid wind-solar projects. According to its creators, it provides a practical solutions for land-use optimization and renewable energy planning.
The best residential PV system configuration for Saudi Arabia
Researchers in Saudi Arabia have identified the best and optimum PV system configurations for the Saudi residential market. Their analysis investigated the capacity threshold that leads to a lower cost of electricity compared to grid electricity costs. They used NREL’s HOMER software to analyze the energy requirements of the residential units, the solar energy potential and weather characteristics of the selected location, and the financial parameters influencing a project’s profitability.
Saudi Arabia commissions its largest battery energy storage system
The 2 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) features 122 prefabricated storage units, designed and supplied by China’s BYD.
The best tilt angle to improve PV module performance in world’s worst soiling accumulation zone
Scientists have measured the performance of PV modules under strong soiling conditions in Saudi Arabia and have identified the most suitable tilt angles for improving power generation. They have also found that a key role is played by rain intensity, dust, sandstorms, and cloud cover.
Ensemble deep learning for PV cell defect detection
Researchers have tested eight stand-alone deep learning methods for PV cell fault detection and have found that their accuracy was as high as 73%. All methods were trained and tested on the ELPV benchmark dataset, which includes 2,624 electroluminescence (EL) images of PV cells.
Saudi Arabia announces prequalified bidders for 2 GW/8 GWh battery storage tender
The Saudi Power Procurement Company has announced its list of 33 prequalified biders for its massive 2 GW/8 GWh BESS tender.
