Technology and R&D

Scientists in Germany designed a poly-Si on oxide (POLO) interdigitated back-contact (IBC) solar cell integrating photon crystals and found this architecture has the potential to reach a power conversion efficiency of over 28%, which would be 1% higher than the current practical limit set by the scientific community. They also found that by improving passivation, the efficiency may be raised up to 29.1%.

Also on the rise: Perch Energy to bring community solar to Massachusetts. US start-up mPower Technology is scaling up its flexible crystalline silicon solar module technology for spatial and terrestrial applications. Popular mid-Atlantic restaurant and convenience store chain, Sheetz, has come to a long-term renewable energy supply agreement with Constellation. Ohio regulators approve 325MW solar project. The Massachusetts Solar Technical Assistance Retrofits program has committed to 3MW of development. Despite Q4 loss, REC Silicon has big plans for US polysilicon manufacturing.

US start-up mPower Technology is scaling up its flexible crystalline silicon solar module technology for spatial and terrestrial applications. The back-contact solar panels consist of micro-singulated silicon dies that are “hyper-interconnected” in series or in parallel. The devices have efficiency ranging from 22 to 23% depending on the size or applications.

Also on the rise: Fire alarms shut down Moss Landing Energy Storage facility. SolarEdge reports record revenue. Mosaic custs costs of solar loans. Policies are working in Illinois, where solar is surging. Wave energy isn’t expected to rival solar or wind power, but NREL sees use cases for the technology. Canada-US-Mexico panel says Section 201 tariffs violate agreement.

While there are mechanical and cost issues that currently block widespread adoption of wave energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is exploring new ways to harness the power of the ocean’s waves.

Researchers from the United States have investigated how fuel cells and electrolyzers may be able to operate under intermittent availability provided by both wind and solar and have found that an affordable hydrogen-based system for seasonal energy storage could be achieved at a hydrogen price lower than $3, produced from inexpensive renewable electricity at $0.02/kWh.

A look at three different hydrogen projects from around the world including one at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory, which launched a new catalyst based on nitrogen and carbon to extract hydrogen from hydrogen storage materials at mild temperatures and under normal atmospheric conditions.

Also on the rise: CommonBond enters solar finance market, hoping to lower costs. SunPower sells C&I business. BloombergNEF’s Jenny Chase says solar offers reasons for hope. NREL develops next-generation CSP. Greenbacker adds to solar portfolio. EV charging networks gets a boost. Nautilus grows community solar portfolio. Nature Conservancy releases Site Renewables Right map.

In studies led by NREL researchers, the DOE pursues an energy cost goal of five cents per kilowatt-hour.

Also on the rise: Terrasmart shares vision of its role in transition to renewables. AES using AI-powered bidding software. Excel commits to procuring 2.5GW of solar by 2030. T-Mobile subscribes to 10 Nexamp solar farms. Funding for water-based electrolysis for green hydrogen. ACORE wants to eliminate anti-renewable rule in New England. Job moves at Scout Clean Energy, PosiGen, QOS Energy, and more