Researchers achieve record perovskite solar module stability under light, heat, and UV stress
An international research team has developed a new two-dimensional perovskite interlayer based on a co-crystal engineering strategy for more robust perovskite films. It demonstrated improved performance in small area perovskite solar cells and, in a 48 cm2 module, contributed to retain 95% of initial efficiency after 5,000 h.
Ascent Solar expands frontiers for thin-film PV in space
Company also seeks terrestrial applications for its lightweight, flexible modules.
Solar module efficiency could exceed 35% by 2050
A new Perspectives research study on the future of the global PV supply chain outlines how module prices, performance, and lifetimes could evolve over the next 25 years. The work reflects a collaboration among leading solar research institutions worldwide. One of the study’s authors, the director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), told pv magazine that solar module and cell efficiencies could exceed 35% by 2050, with panel prices expected to drop by a factor of two.
U.S. space solar startup proves wireless power system works in motion
Overview Energy has proven its solar power beaming satellite system works in motion, which it claims is a world first for high-power wireless energy transmission. The company is targeting megawatt transmission from space in 2030.
The role of robotics in boosting U.S. solar recycling capacity
Solar recycler OnePlanet will draw on vision-guided robots and automation to scale their River City facility and recover more, purer valuable materials from spent panels.
U.S. solar manufacturers ink spacecraft deals
An Arizona manufacturer struck an research agreement with NASA, while a company in Colorado will supply thin-film solar to an unnamed private spacecraft company.
MIT spin-out 247Solar aims to decarbonize baseload power and industrial heat
The company opened a $25 million Series B funding round to support its concentrated solar power solution that stores and dispatches heat and electricity.
Cold storage units incorporate solar to help achieve a 55% reduction in power usage
TITAN Containers’ ArcticStore Horizon have a solar-grid power management system and cleaner refrigerants.
Perovskite tandem solar panels selected for utility-scale installation pilot
Solar developer Plenitude will validate Swift Solar’s 28% efficiency perovskite-silicon tandem technology in a utility-scale project.
Sodium-ion battery storage for ultra-low temperatures
U.S. researchers have developed a sodium-ion pouch cell that operates reliably at temperatures as low as –100 C. The battery was tested with simulated and real renewable energy sources, including wind and solar, and maintained stable performance in both laboratory and field conditions.
