Improving silicon solar cell performance with aluminum-doped polysilicon passivating contacts
An international research group has developed a novel technique enabling the creation of contacts at low temperatures. The novel contact types are reportedly able to enhance cell efficiency by up to 3%.
Longi develops flexible heterojunction solar cell with 26.06% efficiency
The Chinese module manufacturer led an international research team seeking silicon material savings and efficiency gains in the development of heterojunction PV devices. The cell achieved a certified power conversion efficiency of 26.06% with a thickness of 57 μm, with Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research confirming the result.
India launches 1.2 GW wind-solar hybrid tender
Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has started accepting bids to build 1.2 GW of wind-solar hybrid power projects on a build-own-operate basis anywhere in India. The projects must be connected to the interstate transmission system (ISTS). Bidding closes on March 29.
US solar up 52% in 2023 as nation deploys 35.3 GW of capacity
BloombergNEF says US clean energy generation grew by 0.9% in 2023. Wind and hydro generation fell, while solar generation grew by 15.4%.
France hits 20 GW milestone
France added around 3.2 GW of new PV capacity in 2023, with about 955 MW in the fourth quarter alone. The nation hit 20.0 GW of total installed PV capacity at the end of December 2023.
EDF to develop 3 GWh pumped hydro project in Australia
The Australian arm of French energy giant EDF Group has acquired and agreed to co-develop the proposed 300 MW/3 GWh Dungowan pumped hydro energy storage project in New South Wales, Australia.
CleanMax to develop 45.9 MW of solar, wind under PPA in India
Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions (CleanMax) says it will build a 45.9 MW solar-wind project under a power purchase agreement (PPA) in Karnataka, India. It will consist of 36 MW of solar and 9.9 MW of wind capacity.
New design for photovoltaic-thermal panels mitigates risk of cracking
Researchers in Sweden have developed a new PVT module using an aluminum alloy structure between the thermal absorber and the photovoltac cells. This architecture reportedly reduces thermal expansion by 20%, thus increasing the chances of mitigating cracks in the PV unit.
Global atlas for pumped hydro at mining sites
The researchers that created the atlas considered mining pits, pit lakes and tailings ponds within mining sites and located nearby reservoirs. The selected sites have a potential storage capacity of 30 TWh.
Energy Vault starts building green hydrogen storage project
Energy Vault has begun construction on a 293 MWh green hydrogen and battery storage facility within utility Pacific Gas & Electric’s service territory in northern California.
