Five-junction III-V solar cell with 35.1% efficiency
Chinese researchers have used metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) to produce a 12 cm2, five-junction solar cell with a minimal number of mismatch dislocations. The cell has an open-circuit voltage of 4.727 V, a short-circuit current density of 860 mA/m2, and a fill factor of 86.38%.
Origami Solar develops light steel frames for solar modules
Origami Solar developed its new steel solar module frames in collaboration with global steel industry partners, in order to facilitate a smooth transition to high-volume, regional production.
PVEL releases ninth edition of ‘PV Module Reliability Scorecard’
The PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) 2023 Scorecard identifies 250 solar modules from 35 manufacturers as “top performers.”
US startup develops flexible inverted perovskite solar cell with 16.1% efficiency
Scientists from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the University of Louisville have developed a revolutionary solar cell using yttrium-doped tin oxide nanoparticles. The innovation improves charge extraction and overall cell performance.
New solar panels produce water from humidity
US-based manufacturer Source Global has introduced a solar module technology that can produce drinking water from as little as 10% humidity in the air. The company says that its optimized technology can produce water in a range of conditions.
Fraunhofer ISE creates way to assess perovskite-silicon tandem PV modules
Fraunhofer ISE is leading a project that is developing methods to characterize perovskite-based tandem modules, in an effort to facilitate their industrial implementation. A specially built Wavelabs solar simulator is now being used at the institute’s CalLab PV Modules.
German agrivoltaics pilot features closed cycles for water, nutrients
The State Research Institute for Viticulture and Pomiculture (LVWO) in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, has started generating electricity and cultivating berries in a pilot plant. Separately, a project combining agrivoltaics with apple cultivation in Austria has also shown promising initial results.
NASA makes unusual discovery while testing perovskite solar cells in space
NASA has discovered that perovskite solar cells tested in space exhibit less degradation than reference devices tested on Earth. The agency acknowledged that it is uncertain about the specific factors in the space environment that contributed to the superior performance of the perovskite absorber film.
Indian researchers design lead-free perovskite PV cell with 31.57% efficiency
Researchers at India’s National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar, Assam, have designed a formamidinium tin iodide (FASnI3) active layer-based perovskite solar cell. It could potentially achieve a power conversion efficiency of 31.57%, while also scoring well on other performance parameters.
New design for 2T perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with 24.6% efficiency
TU Delft scientists have built a tandem perovskite-silicon solar cell with a new approach to interface engineering. The device has an open-circuit voltage of 1.81 V, a short-circuit current of 18.1 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 75.0%.
