Technology and R&D

The PV industry in 2021 has largely been defined by disruption: Price increases from raw materials to final shipping have led to shortages in PV module supply and project delays the world over. Despite these upsets, innovation has continued at pace, and the year has seen plenty of technological twists and turns that are sure to spell good news for solar in the long run. Read on for a look back at some of the biggest developments.

A diversified and talented workforce, proximity to customers, and strong partnerships on the ground in Arizona prompted Meyer Burger to establish a production site in Goodyear, Arizona.

Also on the rise: Beaming solar from space is one step closer to reality. Wisconsin looks to add 165 MW of solar. Batteries to the rescue: Changes to California’s net-metering program may seriously erode the value of rooftop residential solar without the aid of battery energy storage. Missouri solar project acquired by Scout Clean Energy.

Air Force Research Lab demonstrates key hardware for Arachne flight experiment, which aims to build an operational space-based solar power transmission system. 

The record efficiency was achieved by engineering the cell with reduced copper(II) oxide (CuO) and copper (Cu) impurities in the thin-film deposition. It showed an open-circuit voltage of 1.13 V, a short-circuit current of 10.63 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 0.696.

The differential physics-based software simulates how the change in a given input can change the cell’s power output, potentially paving the way for faster improvements in PV efficiency.

In a partnership with startup SolarFi, the University of Alabama has deployed outdoor solar-powered study “pods”.

Heliogen announced the roll-out of its robots to install and clean its CSP plants.

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.

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission will employ roll-out solar arrays and an electric propulsion system to redirect Earthbound asteroids.