United Kingdom

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) announced today that it had produced at 421 W perovskite-silicon tandem glass-glass module measures 1.68 m2. The module was assembled by Frauhofer ISE using perovskite-tandem cells from UK-based manufacturer Oxford PV. The researchers used commercially available PV production equipment to fabricate the panel.

Once operational, the Great North Road Solar Park in Nottinghamshire, England, could meet the power needs of around 400,000 homes. A spokesperson for the project’s design team has told pv magazine that the installation site is currently owned by private landowners, but the acquisition process is set to be completed shortly.

New research from Pakistan shows that dust could reduce PV panel performance through the shielding effect and the “dust-temperature” phenomenon. The scientists tested two PV systems in different parts of the country.

A new research project, thought to be the first to assess hydrogen as an energy source for heat pumps, has found that hydrogen-backed heat pumps could be an eco-friendly option for the building sector and support decarbonization in line with the UK’s net-zero targets.

An international group of researchers has developed an electronic device that is said to effectively mitigate hotspots in PV modules. It uses two current comparators, two NPN transistors, and a current mirror circuit to identify anomalies in the current flow and enable precise control of the input and output current via a purely resistive element.

As electrolysis is gaining traction in the markets, European and US companies announce new hydrogen projects in the heavy mobility sector. Meanwhile, UK-based solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) tech developer Ceres Power signed a global long-term agreement with Delta Electronics.

Scientists in the United Kingdom have proposed to combine residential thermoelectric heat pumps with heat storage tanks and have found this solution offers a higher heat output, a higher coefficient of performance, and shorter heating time. They stressed that thermoelectric heat pumps are easily combinable with DC photovoltaic energy.

UK researchers have evaluated the impact that heat pumps could have on fuel poverty in England and Scotland. They have found that the benefits heat pumps can provide exist in both scenarios.

Aerosolar, a spinoff from the Queen Mary University of London, has created a novel aerosol method that it claims boosts efficiency and stability of metal halide perovskite solar cells.

In November 2022, Germany’s Energie Baden Württemberg and steelmaker Salzgitter Group signed one of Europe’s first power purchase agreements (PPAs) for hydrogen production. More have followed and with the European Union introducing rules to govern green hydrogen, an industry is planning for its future.