Silver prices surge, yet ‘thrifting’ poses little threat to solar cell, module quality
With silver prices nearing $50 per ounce, researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) tell pv magazine that efforts to reduce silver use in solar cells will not compromise module quality if properly engineered.
Standardized testing for indoor PV
Researchers at Simon Fraser University in Canada have proposed protocols for standardized testing to avoid skewed results. The validated recommendations cover procedures for key measurements and the use of the indoor PV reference cell method.
Perovskite quantum dot solar cell achieves record-breaking efficiency of 18.3%
Conceived by scientists in China, the cell was built with an alkaline treatment that modulates efficiently the perovskite quantum dots surface chemistry. The device reportedly achieved the highest power conversion efficiency ever reported for this kind of solar cells.
IPVF demonstrates 16.8%-efficient mini bifacial perovskite solar module
The French research institute said the bifacial wide bandgap perovskite technology is to be scaled in size to 60 cm x 30 cm for use in four-terminal perovskite-silicon tandem panels.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: PowerChina opens 3 GWp n-type TOPCon tender
Power Construction Corp. of China (PowerChina) has awarded 3 GWp of n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) module supply, while China South Glass has approved a $241.4 million PV glass project in Egypt.
China wafer prices end four-week rally amid stable polysilicon, cooling demand
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
Solar module prices to rise 9% in Q4, says Wood Mackenzie
Wood Mackenzie says module prices will climb as China ends export rebates and consolidates polysilicon production.
DAS Solar developing 23%-efficient silicon solar cell based on carbon nanotubes
The Chinese module maker said the solar cell was developed with the support of Hebei University. The device uses a carbon nanotube-based hole transport layer that could be used in TOPCon and HJT structures to boost output and reduce complexity.
China’s SoleFiori to build 6 GW HJT solar module factory in Saudi Arabia
SoleFiori signed a deal to set up a 6 GW heterojunction (HJT) solar module plant in Saudi Arabia, supplying high-efficiency panels tailored for desert conditions.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: New PV additions for August total only 7.3 GW
China installed 7.36 GW of new solar in August, bringing year-to-date capacity additions to 230.61 GW and total power generation capacity to 3.69 TW.
