Photocatalytic water splitting with 9.2% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency
A US research team has developed a new technique to produce hydrogen from sunlight and water. It works in an indoor environment and uses pure water, concentrated solar light, and an indium gallium nitride photocatalyst.
Novel database on existing, planned renewables, solar projects in Africa
A new database developed by researchers in Germany includes 1,074 hydropower projects, 1,128 solar plants, and 276 wind power assets, along with geographic coordinates, construction statuses, and capacities for each of them.
Solar cell efficiency growth correlated with R&D volumes
New research highlights the crucial role of R&D in improving solar cell efficiency. The researchers discovered that it is theoretically possible to measure the promise of new solar cell technologies at any stage of development.
Storing solar power with compressed air storage, air conditioning
Researchers in the United Arab Emirates have developed a way to use compressed air storage to store solar power and provide additional cooling. They claim their prototype could compete with commercially available compression-cooling air conditioners.
Semi-transparent solar cell based on silicon-germanium quantum wells
German scientists have developed a solar cell with multiple quantum wells to enable higher levels of photocurrent. The 3.4%-efficient device could be used for glass facades in buildings and windows, sunroofs in vehicles, and greenhouses for agrivoltaics.
Gravitricity to deploy prototype underground hydrogen storage system
Gravitricity, an Edinburgh-based storage specialist, aims to develop the first full-scale demonstration of its underground hydrogen storage solution by working with structural engineering contractor VSL Systems UK.
Novel ice dispatch storage system for building applications
Nostromo Energy has developed a modular cold energy storage system that operates as a virtual power plant. The company will receive a loan, supported by the US Department of Energy (DoE), for the installation of a 120-building energy storage portfolio in California and other US states.
Impact of dust, heat, soiling on solar project performance
Scientists in Morocco recently conducted a year-long study on the impacts of soiling on PV modules in arid, dusty conditions. They found that soiling could contribute to daily performance losses of as much as 15%.
Video: Fraunhofer ISE outlines 2023 prospects for TOPCon solar modules
Jochen Rentsch, head of department at Fraunhofer ISE, speaks to pv magazine about recent progress in TOPCon module development, including new efficiency records by JinkoSolar and Jolywood. Production costs are falling as more Tier 1 companies shift from PERC to TOPCon, and multi-gigawatt production is already a reality. Could the TOPCon solar cell segment reach a tipping point for efficiency in 2023?
New algorithm to detect shadows in rooftop PV systems
Dutch scientists have developed a new algorithm to isolate shadow-related PV system malfunctions and estimate potential energy losses caused by shadowing.
