Solar PV

NREL researchers used acoustically spalled gallium arsenide substrate that reportedly reduces electrical shunting, resulting in potentially lower manufacturing costs. The cell achieved an open-circuit voltage of 1.061 V, a short-circuit current density of 29.9 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 84.9%.

Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have used aluminum foil-based negative electrodes with engineered microstructures in an all-solid-state lithium-ion cell configuration. They have reported hundreds of stable cycles with practically relevant areal capacities at high current densities.

India has concluded a 2 GW solar tender with a tariff of $0.032/kWh. The winning developers can set up projects anywhere in the country, as long as they are connected to the interstate transmission system (ISTS).

Sarcos Robotics and Terabase Energy recently announced key business developments, underscoring how installation robots are increasingly moving from test centers to the field.

Researchers in Spain have studied the impact of hydrogen production and storage technologies in risk management for energy communities with internal price-tariff systems. They found that the optimal involvement in futures markets and spot markets will depend on a community’s risk aversion and self-sufficiency.

The two companies are targeting to reach an annual production capacity of 20 GW by the end of 2025. Manufacturing activities are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of next year.

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF) has developed an ultra-efficient circuit topology for voltage converters with an electrical efficiency of 99.74%. The tech could considerably raise the coefficient of performance for electrocaloric heat pumps and the scientists are now considering components based on semiconductor gallium nitride (GaN) for higher power density and efficiency.

China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) says the nation installed 78.42 GW of solar in the first six months of this year, bringing it to nearly 470 GW of cumulative installed PV capacity by the end of June.

Andreas Thorsheim, the CEO of Norway-based residential solar specialist Otovo, recently spoke with pv magazine about high inventory levels for solar modules in Europe and falling panel prices. He said there will be a strong buyer’s market this fall and noted that the latest modules off the boat are the cheapest.

A large US environmental coalition has signed a letter to support solar deployment on 8,000 miles of federal, open-air canals.