Blue Sky Energy offers saltwater-based residential solar storage
Interview: Saltwater technology is similar to that of lead battery storage, but only natural materials are used. Helmut Mayer, Managing Director of Blue Sky Energy, explains how this compares to lithium-ion, which currently dominates the residential PV sector.
Swedish scientists develop new method to reduce defects in organic solar cells
The researchers found that printed solar cells achieved a better performance when they used an active polymer material as glue.
Fraunhofer ISE announces 33% efficiency for multi-junction solar cell
Together with Austrian equipment manufacturer EVG, Fraunhofer ISE has achieved an efficiency of 33.3% on a multi-junction solar cell. The highlight of the cell is the ultra-thin II-V semiconductor layer. However, it will be a few years before mass production is possible.
German scientists use germanium to improve performance of kesterite solar cells
Although current efficiencies for solar cells based on kesterite do not exceed 12.6%, the use of germanium may enable the development of cells with a higher energy band gap.
US researchers mull zinc oxide as solar cell manufacturing alternative to titanium dioxide
The group of scientists has identified a new process by which holes get trapped in nanoparticles made of zinc oxide.
Japanese scientists develop ZHR method to improve manufacturing of thin film monocrystalline silicon
The research team believes that the new technology may resolve technical problems and drastically reduce the manufacturing cost of the lift-off process in the production of thin film monocrystalline solar cells.
China intends to control capacity expansion of its PV industry more strictly
The Chinese Ministry of Industry in Beijing has issued new guidelines for the solar PV industry. These urge Chinese manufacturers to invest at least 10 million yuan annually into research and development.
Netherlands launches 2018 support scheme for innovative solar, renewables
The Topsector Energie scheme, which will also support all kinds of innovative energy projects, has a budget of €130 million for 2018.
Aging tests for perovskite, dye-sensitized solar cells must improve, research says
Finnish scientists have found that only one third of tests reported the intensities of visible and UV light, humidity and temperature adequately.
Germany’s ISFH announces 26.1% efficiency for p-type crystalline cells
The Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) and the Leibniz Universität Hannover claim that this result is a world record for p-type silicon material, as well as a European record for crystalline silicon.
