A research group including scientists from U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Underwriter’s Laboratories Inc., and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has outlined a new protocol for assessing PV module backsheet degradation in the field. Through the proposed framework, the researchers analyzed PV backsheet degradation across 41 sites, with exposure times ranging from 1 to 38 years.

New research from Stanford University has investigated the performance limits of transition metal dichalcogenide solar cells for indoor energy harvesting intended for powering internet of things (IoT) devices and sensors. The analysis showed these cells may reach a power conversion efficiency of up to 36.5%.

The Italian manufacturing equipment provider supplied U.S. solar manufacturer CS Solar MFG LLC with an 800 MW production line to produce bifacial glass-glass passivated emitter rear cell (PERC) panels with over 22% efficiency.

First Solar has sued JinkoSolar in a US federal court in Delaware, claiming that the Chinese manufacturer infringed upon US Patent No. 9,130,074, which is related to tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar technology.

The U.S.-based heating specialist said its new air-to-water heat pumps use difluoromethane as the refrigerant and have a coefficient of performance of up to 5.37.

The new single-phase off-grid inverters have an AC output power ranging from 3.6 kW to 6 kW, Deye reports. The systems feature a maximum efficiency of 97.6% and a European efficiency rate of 96.5%.

Enertopia has developed a solar module cooling system that uses a moisture collection layer to transfer heat while capturing water for irrigation in arid regions. The design channels heat from the panel to a liquid transfer system, improving efficiency and water use.

Carrier, a heating solutions provider, said its new AquaSnap 61AQ heat pump system can deliver high-temperature heating up to 167 F at outdoor temperatures as low as -13 F. The new product is available with capacities ranging from 40 kW to 140 kW.

At the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, pv magazine spoke with two OPIS analysts about the current and projected price trajectory in the global supply chain. According to their analysis, overcapacity remains difficult to be kept in control, which makes an increase in solar module prices very unlikely, at least in the near future.

Developed at the U. S. Ames National Laboratory, the novel magnetocaloric heat pump utilizes gadolinium as the working medium and reportedly matches current vapor-compression heat pumps for weight, cost, and performance. The system is based on a packed-particle bed active magnetic regenerator, a magnetic source composed of permanent magnets and high permeability magnetic steel.