Solar Cells

The Chinese module manufacturer said the record efficiency of 25.25% was obtained through material upgrades integrated into the cell process and fabrication. The result was confirmed by China’s National Institute of Metrology.

Scientists in India have simulated a perovskite cell based on methylammonium tin iodide which they claim may achieve a short circuit current density of 25.97 mA per square centimeter, an open-circuit voltage of 1.203 V, and a fill factor of 87.79%. The cell is composed of a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate, a titanium oxide layer, a methylammonium tin iodide perovskite film, a copper oxide hole transport layer (HTL), and a layer made of gold (Au).

A pandemic-related sales slump has dealt another blow to domestic panel makers already faced with rising input costs and an expected surge in imports due to the scheduled wind down of safeguarding duties on foreign products from late July.

Longi has raised its wafer prices for June and the China Nonferrous Metals Association has reported this week that polysilicon reached a price of RMB200-210 per kg, and that the highest price exceeded RMB230 per kg.

The 100% solar-powered boat will be tested in a 9,000 nautical mile expedition from Chile to Australia that is set to start in December. The vessel is equipped with an 11 kW PV system built with heterojunction modules provided by Russian manufacturer Hevel Solar.

Researchers have developed a slot-die coated solar cell with an ‘n-i-p’ layout and a fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate, a tin oxide layer, a perovskite film, and a hole-blocking layer. It has an efficiency of 18.03%, an open-circuit voltage of 1024 mV, and a short-circuit current density of 22.4 mA cm−2.

Through the 10-year power supply deal, the renewable energy company will sell the power generated by a 41 MW solar park located in the southern region of Apulia to the Italian unit of Belgium-based chemical company Solvay. The solar plant is planned to be linked to 10 MW/20 MWh of storage.

An international research group is seeking to increase the efficiency of heterojunction cadmium-telluride solar cells by applying back surface field (BSF) layers made of antimony selenide. It claims the addition of this compound may raise CdTe cell efficiency by around 9% and has the technical potential to reach efficiencies over 40%.

Czech specialist module manufacturer Fill Factory has signed up to take €500,000 worth of Valoe’s inter-digitated back contact cells under a one-year supply contract.

Both products are based on 22%-efficient CIGS solar cells and are manufactured in Asia. One of the two devices has a flat design and power output of 80 W and a second product features a nominal power of 30 W and an undulating design.