Cooling PV modules with radiative sky cooling
French scientists have proposed the use of radiative sky cooling as a passive cooling technique to cut PV module temperatures by 10 C. They claim the method could improve performance by more than 5 W/m2.
UNIST, EPFL claim 25.6% efficiency world record for perovskite solar cell
Scientists have set a new efficiency record for a single-junction perovskite solar cell at 25.6%. The cell additionally showed operational stability for 450 hours, and intense electroluminescence with external quantum efficiencies of more than 10%.
Australian manufacturer shares excess PV generation with staff
Hunter Douglas, a blinds and awnings manufacturer, will use the Enosi Powertracer platform to direct its oversupply of rooftop solar to its workforce.
Rooftop solar, storage and EVs in India
The combination of rooftop solar and storage is a big opportunity. A new report highlights Australia – a nation with the world’s highest per capita rooftop PV capacity – as a guide for Indian policymakers.
New design for antireflective coating in multijunction solar cells
Scientists in Madrid investigated the use of antireflective coatings in multijunction solar cells, drawing several conclusions that could further improve the efficiency of these cells. Their approach could improve on current antireflective coatings, particularly for high-efficiency multijunction cells, using methods and materials already proven in mass production.
Monograin layer solar cell with 6.4% efficiency
The lightweight and flexible cell was built by Estonian researchers with microcrystalline powders. The device is claimed to be the most efficient solar cell fabricated with a semiconductor compound known as Cu2CdGe(SxSe1−x)4.
Australian utility to build floating PV plant, 200 MW battery
AGL Energy has revealed plans for a floating PV project at its Loy Yang power station in Victoria, Australia. The energy giant is already producing brown hydrogen for export to Japan, and has applied for a 200 MW battery at the Loy Yang site.
French photovoltaic greenhouse delivers 3.1 GWh and 4 tons/hectare of asparagus in one year
The solar greenhouse was built by French developer Tenergie in 2017 and last year recorded a remarkable performance in terms of both agricultural ane electricity yield.
Commercial HJT solar cells could hit 26% efficiency by 2030
Arvind Shah, a professor at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, and Meyer Burger former Chief Innovation Officer Sylvère Leu recently spoke to pv magazine about the future of heterojunction PV modules. They said the tech is mature and can now compete on cost with PERC panels in projects – particularly in hot, humid environments.
Sweden hits 1 GW milestone
The Scandinavian country saw the installation of more than 400 MW of PV systems last year. The Swedish solar market keeps being driven by rooftop PV.
