Standardized testing for indoor PV
Researchers at Simon Fraser University in Canada have proposed protocols for standardized testing to avoid skewed results. The validated recommendations cover procedures for key measurements and the use of the indoor PV reference cell method.
Researchers discover photovoltaic properties in zinc-based film
Research from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has found zinc-phosphate-hydrate (ZPH) films are capable of producing electricity from light. The coating’s photovoltage was amplified when anthocyanin, a natural dye found in blackberries, was added.
Astrobotic, Honda developing vertical solar, storage solution for lunar missions
Pittsburgh-based aerospace company Astrobotic and Honda’s North American subsidiary are working on integrating Astrobotic’s vertical solar array technology with Honda’s regenerative fuel cell system to develop a power and storage solution capable of supporting prolonged exploration of the moon.
NREL researchers address safety implications of next-generation battery technologies
Report says new evaluation methods, including AI, will help make future batteries safer.
As bidirectional EV charging grows, utility group suggests requiring interconnection
Interconnection of bidirectional EV chargers can enable grid compensation for EV owners while enhancing safety, says a report that offers comprehensive guidance for regulators.
IEA-PVPS warns soiling costs solar industry billions per year
The International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) says dust, pollution, and debris on solar panels reduce output by 4% to 7% worldwide, costing the industry billions of euros annually and making tailored mitigation increasingly urgent.
New control strategy for grid-forming inverters
Researchers in the United States have created a droop control strategy for grid-forming inverters that purportedly improves power system frequency stability. By using an exponential active power–frequency relationship, the novel technique optimizes the use of available headroom, reduces frequency deviations, and enhances overall grid resilience.
Scientists break Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit for silicon solar cell in experiment
A Chinese-US research group claims to have achieved a power conversion efficiency of over 50% in an n-type single-junction solar cell by inhibiting light conversion to heat at extremely low temperatures. The result was achieved at temperatures of 30-50 Kelvin, which are a few tens of degrees above absolute zero.
Ford Lightning electric truck batteries power Maryland’s electric grid
Residential solar company Sunrun is operating the first vehicle-to-grid program in the United States, running a distributed energy power plant via coordinated energy dispatch from Ford Lightning truck owners.
Why do some cities have higher low-income solar adoption rates than others?
After studying low- and moderate-income solar adoption for years, Lawrence Berkely Laboratory drilled down on three cities and captured why solar equity requires looking beyond numbers alone.
