Perovskite solar cell achieves 24.3% efficiency, high stability via binary mixed hole transport layer
Researchers in China have built a hole transport layer with a mixed binary configuration integrating the polymer Regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and Spiro-OMeTAD. They used it to build a perovskite solar cell that was able to retain 90% of its initial efficiency after 1,200 hours of storage in dark ambient environment.
Solar testing group warns of degradation risk for TOPCon
The Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC) raised the issue of ultraviolet-induced degradation of the trending technology in its PV Module Index 2022.
Big PV plants may have positive climate impact in deserts, say researchers
Chinese researchers have discovered that solar plants might reduce evaporation and wind speeds in the Gobi Desert, while also increasing soil relative humidity, according to a series of simulations with different emission scenarios.
Potential locations for solar, wind hybrid projects in India
Indian scientists have created a hybrid power exploitability index to identify optimal locations for constructing new solar and wind hybrid power plants. They have evaluated retrofitting existing standalone plants and have discovered that all but one of the eight plants could be hybridized, with up to a 400% annual increase in power output.
Mobile application to predict optimal energy efficient route for solar vehicles
Irish researchers have created a mobile app that calculates the best route for solar-powered vehicles based on user preferences for time and energy efficiency. The app’s experiment predicted the most energy-absorbing route with 51.65% accuracy and chose the most energy-consuming route with 86.65% accuracy.
Low-cost, portable sun-tracker for offgrid solar
Mauritian researchers have developed a solar tracker prototype that increases current by around 37%. The device uses a simplified and mechanical tracking system.
Passive solar module cooling tech based on water sorption
South Korean scientists have developed a WD-ER cooling system that can lower the operating temperature of a PV panel by up to 14.9 C, with an average heat transfer coefficient of 64.1 W/m2.
Japanese consortium demonstrates transparent PV windows in indoor environment
Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG), Japan’s largest glassmaker, plans to show photovoltaic windows developed by its US unit, Ubiquitous Energy, at a train station in Japan. The windows feature a transparent photovoltaic coating with an invisible element of power generation, capable of absorbing non-visible wavelengths.
Antimony trisulfide PV cell hits 4.9% efficiency with fluorene-based HTMs
An international research group used the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) method to fabricate an antimony trisulfide PV cell with high power conversion efficiency and remarkable average visible transmittance. The cell has an active area of 7.06 mm2.
Fraunhofer ISE produces hydrogen via PEM electrolyzer with seawater
Fraunhofer ISE scientists have optimized a technical concept for a hydrogen plant at sea. They claim that their design is “technically and economically viable.”
