Emiliano Bellini
Aerospace manufacturer Rocket Lab takes over space solar cell maker Solaero
Rocket Lab has acquired space solar cell maker Solaero for $80 million. The latter operates an 11,000m2 manufacturing facility in New Mexico and produces multi-junction cells with efficiencies ranging from 29.4% to 32%.
Icephobic surfaces for ice, snow shedding in utility scale solar
Developed by U.S. researchers, the proposed coating solution is claimed to effectively melt ice and snow with temperatures of up to -35 degrees Celsius. It was fabricated by using medium-chain triglyceride oil to plasticize two common industrial polymer polyvinyl chlorides and tested at a pilot facility in Alaska.
Residential solar paired with heat pumps outperforms propane in cold, isolated climates
A U.S.-Swedish research group has investigated the complex economic relationship between PV and heat pumps in cold climates under four different levels of electrification. It found that, compared to propane, solar heat pumps can reduce reduce costs by up to 20% and carbon emissions by 30%.
Color-tunable transparent silicon solar cell with 7.38% efficiency
Designed for BIPV applications by scientists in Korea, the solar cell is based on a 100μm-thick n-type silicon wafer and has a bending radius of 3-6mm.
Center notches 29.80% efficiency for perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell
The solar cell is based on a nanotextured front side and a back side with a dielectric reflector.
Novel solar cell architecture to reduce silver costs, improve voltage
Developed by a U.S.-based start-up, the new manufacturing process is claimed to reduce silver consumption and improve solar module performance by up to 3 W. It consists of connecting sub-cells in series within a single cell in order to increase the device voltage and without requiring cells to be physically broken and rewired.
Reuse or replace? IEA PVPS analysis considers all options for underperfoming PV modules
In a new report, experts from the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power System Programme (IEA-PVPS) have assessed the economical and environmental benefits of repairing and reusing or replacing solar modules that are not complying with a 30-year expected lifetime.
How PV performs close to radio, TV antennas
Researchers in Kenya have analyzed the performance of an off-grid PV system located near an isotropic antenna as an emitting source.
Long-duration thermal storage system based on silica sand
Developed by Italian dry bottom ash handling system provider Magaldi Power, the system produces green thermal energy — steam or hot air — which can be used directly in industrial plants or for the generation of electricity using steam turbines.
New tech recovers pure silicon from end-of-life solar cells
The technique is reported to be able to deliver recycled silicon with a purity of up to 99.9984%.
