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.
Singapore’s 60 MW floating PV array up and running
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said earlier this year that the city-state needs to “innovate and use technology” to overcome its resource scarcity problem. With one of the world’s largest floating PV arrays now in operation, it appears to be drifting in the right direction.
SMA, Renusol link planning tools
The German companies plan to combine their tools for project planning and battery systems via a new interface. They aim to simplify the work processes of planners and installers.
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%.
Brazil allocates 269.3 MW of solar across two energy auctions
The A-4 and A-3 auctions saw the participation of a huge amount of solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass projects.
Sliding seam clamps for framed solar modules
The clamps can be installed on artisanal seam sheet roofs or industrial system seam sheet roofs made of coated steel, aluminum and other materials.
JinkoSolar claims 23.53% efficiency for n-type, TOPCon, monocrystalline panel
The PV module relies on Jinko’s TOPCon mono cell technology, for which a record efficiency of 25.25% was announced in late May. TÜV Rheinland has confirmed the result.
Solar module cooling techniques for the desert
Saudi scientists have tested several cooling technologies for solar panels and have found that active techniques work better than passive ones under harsh climatic conditions. The most effective one consists of a system based on four heat pipes immersed in a box of liquid, as liquid bulk, integrated with the back of the solar panel.
Elon Musk could lose billions in Tesla-SolarCity acquisition suit
Musk is headed to Delaware courts this month as the sole remaining defendant in a case brought by Tesla shareholders.
