Natcore achieves 20.7% efficiency on silver-free back contact cell
The latest efficiency milestone for Natcore’s Foil Cell is verified by the NanoPower Research Lab at Rochester Institute for Technology. The result was achieved on the Natcore Foil Cell, which utilizes a lasering process and novel metallization strategy, eliminating the need for costly silver.
Getting ready for terawatts of solar (with charts)
Researchers from NREL, Fraunhofer ISE and Japan’s AIST have released a new paper which looks at the barriers to deploying multiple terawatts of solar PV and what can be done to overcome them.
Perovskite researchers nab $1.45 million grant in California
The University of California system has granted solar-cell researchers at UC San Diego the money to accelerate research into a technology it hopes will cut the costs of solar power in half.
“Ice batteries” become available in Southern California
Ice Energy expects to deploy up to 1,800 Ice Bear systems to C&I customers and a municipality in Orange County.
Schmid and MacDermid 2017 Technology Highlights award winners
Schmid and MacDermid have been selected as pv magazine’s 2017 Technology Highlights award winners. In late March, the prize jury of industry experts met to select the winners, from a shortlist of eight innovative new PV production equipment and materials. Dozens of entries to the award were received from suppliers worldwide. Alongside the two winners, the jury selected Sinton Instruments as worthy of special commendation as having provided the ‘Technology to Watch’ in 2017.
Air Force working on 1-hour microgrid installation
As is often the case, the military is leading the way in energy innovation, creating a self-contained power source designed to be deployed
Natcore’s Foil Cell creeps closer to commercialization
The U.S. cell manufacturer announced a partnership with Italian manufacturer Coveme to accelerate the development and commercialization of Natcore’s latest cell innovation.
Stanford advocates ending China solar tariffs
The report led by a former Wall Street Journal editor gives national advice that mimics policies under President Obama’s energy department, but is unlikely to go anywhere under Trump.
“Skinny Budget” nukes renewable energy research
President Trump’s Department of Energy hit list includes advanced energy research, loan guarantees and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
SunPower signs supply deal for 125 MW of P-Series modules
The supply deal with NextEra Energy Resources signals a radical shift in strategy for the struggling manufacturer and is the first major test of its novel module design.
