New optical coating could extend lifetimes of solar cells
U.S. researchers are collaborating on the development of optical coatings that could extend the lifetimes of PV cells.
Flexible perovskite quantum dot solar cell with 15.1% efficiency
An international research team has developed a PV cell with all-inorganic cesium-lead iodide (CsPbI3) perovskite. The scientists added phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), one of the best electron acceptors in organic PV cells, into the CsPbI3 quantum dot layer.
Hyundai builds 1.37 GW solar cell factory in South Korea
The first 650 MW production line will be deployed by the end of June. The cells produced at the manufacturing facility will be used exclusively for Hyundai’s module production.
Meyer Burger to start PV cell, module production in May
Swiss solar manufacturer Meyer Burger is now looking for people to work at its new factories in Freiberg and Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany. The two facilities are scheduled to start production in May.
Italian sovereign wealth fund joins forces with Eni to deploy 1 GW of solar and wind
Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Equity and the Italian energy giant have created a joint venture that will invest around €800 million in renewables in their homeland by 2025. The two companies are planning to build large scale plants with the option of utilizing properties owned by the Italian government.
Japanese researchers build tin(II) sulfide solar cell with high open-circuit voltage
The single-junction cell has a conversion efficiency of only 1.4%, but its creators claim it may easily reach between 4 and 5%, when properly optimized. The device also showed a remarkable open-circuit voltage of 360 mV, which the scientists described as the highest VOC value ever reached for SnS‐based heterojunction solar cells.
India to levy 40% customs duties on imported solar modules from April 2022
The finance ministry has approved the proposal to levy the duty next year. Customs notification of the move will be issued at a later date.
III-V multi-junction solar cell with 39% efficiency
Finnish scientists have developed a four-junction solar cell based on III-V semiconductor materials that is said to be able to achieve a wide spectral coverage. The cell was monolithically grown on gallium arsenide by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).
Hard times for french PV module maker Photowatt
According to French financial newspaper Les Echos, EDF, the main shareholder of PhotoWatt, is considering closing the production in Bourgoin-Jallieu. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional council is mobilizing to save the company and announces that a regional company may acquire the module manufacturer.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Increasing polysilicon prices and new supply deals
PV Infolink reported a considerable increase in prices for polysilicon and wafer prices for last week. Both products saw their average price increase by over 9% compared to the previous week.
