photovoltaics

Spanish scientists have fabricated solid-state PV cells with two different porous nanomaterials. Although low in terms of efficiency, one of the cells built with the MIL-125(Ti) metal-organic framework nanomaterial exhibited better photovoltaic performance than similar devices.

The special passivating contact is claimed to feature high transparency, good conductivity, and at the same time, to offer enough hydrogenation for passivation. The cell built with this contact achieved an open-circuit voltage of 725 mV, a short-circuit current density of 40.87 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 80.9%. Its certified efficiency was 23.99%.

Representatives from 15 agricultural and solar businesses, research entities, and certification bodies in Germany have developed DIN SPEC 91434, a new set of proposed standards for agrivoltaics.

PV and wind could meet global energy demand 100 times over, according to a new report by the Carbon Tracker Initiative. Australia, in particular, is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the transition as one of the few developed countries with vast renewables potential and a low population.

Developers have until May 17 to bid for grid-connected, ground-mounted PV capacity that will come up across 29 districts in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The ceiling tariff is fixed at INR 3.05/kWh.

Scientists demonstrated two new approaches to improving the stability of perovskite solar cells. By both incorporating rubidium into the structure of the perovskite, and adding a film of two-dimensional perovskite as a capping layer, they were able to demonstrate a significant reduction in the cell’s sensitivity to moisture. The group says its research will open up new routes to improved performance and stability in perovskite PV.

The new heterojunction panel series features an efficiency of up to 21.9 % and an operating temperature coefficient of -0.26% per degree Celsius.

Italy’s Council of State has issued a new ruling that bodes well for renewables development. The consultative body has clarified a number of principles related to permits, but caution is still required.

The Turkish Ministry of Energy has completed, thus far, only the tender’s first 60 MW tranche, and the four winning bids ranged from $0.0248/kWh to $0.0335/kWh. The other tranches of the procurement exercise will be finalized over the next few days.

According to new research from the U.K., solar parks may help maintain natural habitats for pollinators that could be, otherwise, destroyed by intensive farming. The study also highlights that biodiversity could be both positively and negatively affected by solar parks and associated land-use change.