Energy storage aggregation unlocks benefits for homeowners, grid operators, installers
Companies like Sunrun are implementing grid services using smart batteries to unlock benefits for residential end users and the grid at large. Recent research from New Zealand suggests that these benefits could be dramatic.
Bringing the noise for better solar cell efficiency
An international team of scientists developed a technique to isolate individual sources of electrical ‘noise’ within a solar cell. Comparing the technique to being able to pick out a single voice within a 200-person choir, they say the technique will help to improve understanding of where efficiency losses occur within a cell, and effective ways to mitigate them.
Huasun achieves 25.26% efficiency for heterojunction solar cell
The result was confirmed by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin.
Inverted perovskite solar cell with 22.1% efficiency via star-shaped polymer
The solar cell was fabricated with a special polymer that is able to passivate defects at the grain boundaries and interfacial surfaces, inhibit nonradiative recombination and charge-transport loss, and improve stabilities under moisture. The device exhibited a remarkable fill factor, of 0.862.
Conical-shaped solar panels cooled by forced airflow
A group of international scientists has compared the hypothetical performance of three novel shapes of solar modules – pyramidal, hexagonal and conical – and has found the latter has the strongest potential in terms of thermal behavior. According to their findings, a cooling technique based on forced airflow is key to making these solar module shapes into a feasible solution.
n-type perovskite tandem cell hits 27% efficiency
Scientists demonstrated a perovskite-silicon tandem cell that reached 27% conversion efficiency. Though higher tandem cell efficiencies have been achieved, this represents a big jump in efficiency for those utilizing n-i-p architecture, which previously had not surpassed 22%.
Solar+storage could provide 80% of annual EV power needs
A new EUPD Research report shows that a PV system can cover 39% of the power demand of an electric vehicle, but this potentially rises to 80% if storage is included.
New floating structure for offshore PV, from Malta
The new floating structures can be made of light, reinforced concrete or similar materials, and are claimed to withstand 6m high waves. They can be utilized with standard photovoltaic modules that are currently available on the market.
New research points to cheaper green hydrogen by 2030
New modeling by Monash University researchers has shown that the cost of green hydrogen with solar PV could satisfy the Australian government’s economic stretch goal of AUD 2 ($1.50) per kilogram by as early as 2030.
Trina Solar achieves 23.03% efficiency for 210 mm PERC solar module
The result was confirmed by Germany’s TÜV Rheinland and TÜV Nord.
