US consortium aims for solar PV with a 50-year lifetime
The Department of Energy’s durable materials consortium is a multi-laboratory unit that stress-tests solar modules for durability. It seeks to extend the useful life of PV.
MIT scientists develop PV cleaning system based on electrostatic repulsion
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a system that can be operated at a voltage of around 12V, with a 95% recovery rate for lost power after cleaning. The waterless system can be operated automatically via an electric motor.
Rocket Lab unveils space solar cell with 33.3% efficiency
The new device is based on an inverted metamorphic multi-junction (IMM) cell technology developed by Rocket Lab’s unit Solaero. The cell can be used in applications in the civil, military, and commercial space markets.
The Solar Tech Check: PV in space, and thin films stride forward
This week has seen NASA announce the completion of a new folding array set to power a mission deep into our solar system, while scientists continue to work on new applications to take such explorations even further from the sun. New measurements also promise routes to higher efficiency in cadmium-telluride PV, and details emerge of one of thinnest solar cells seen so far.
Solar trackers vs. wind: An ongoing struggle
In a new whitepaper, FTC solar looks to tackle the damage potential of dynamic and static wind loads on single axis trackers using a novel hardware approach and a zero-degree stow angle.
LONGi releases Hi-MO 5 snow load test results, suggests module superiority
LONGi Solar has released the data of an inhomogeneous snow-load test. Its results show that its 72-cell solar modules held 1,800 pascals more force than a competing large format product using 210 mm cells.
NASA’s 1.5 billion-mile Psyche asteroid mission will be solar-powered
NASA will explore a large, metal-rich asteroid with an remote-operated craft powered by two cross-shaped solar arrays.
Do rigid trackers get the most out of large format modules?
Arctech Solar released a new white paper outlining the opportunities presented by stowing modules at a zero-degree angle in high-wind scenarios, a solution made possible by the advent of rigid trackers.
US EV battery manufacturer demonstrates 750+ mile range, raises $65 million
Michigan’s Our Next Energy (ONE) said it will use the funding led by BMW to accelerate R&D and build a US manufacturing facility.
Rackless, earth-mounted solar provider earns funding
Erthos secured a $17.5 million Series B from an investor who participated in the startup of Tesla and SpaceX. The utility-scale solar company has a 2.5GW project pipeline.
