Scientists look into insect eyes for new solar cell design
Mimicking a compound eye of a fly, Stanford University scientists have packed tiny perovskite cells into a hexagon-shaped epoxy resin scaffold, improving the material’s durability when exposed to moisture, heat and mechanical stress in a breakthrough that may open the door to the awaited improvement in perovskite’s operational stability.
Solar and nukes
Can high levels of solar and wind coexist with nuclear generation on the grid? The answer is more complicated than you might think.
Addressing solar’s growing pains with data standards & analytics
In this op-ed for pv magazine, kWh Analytics Software Engineer Paul Young previews his SPI presentation and explores the increasing importance of solar data standards and analytics.
Future PV: The feasibility of solar-powered hydrogen production
There is a solid business case to combine PV plants with electrolyzers, as generation costs are low enough to competitively produce hydrogen as a fuel, says Bjørn Simonsen of NEL Hydrogen. He will speak at pv magazine’s Future PV event at SPI in Las Vegas.
Perovskite has changed its status to single (cell)
In another breakthrough for the material so many solar advocates hope will replace traditional silicon in module production, a group of scientists in China and the United States have produced the first monocrystalline perovskite cell, which could accelerate its acceptance as a silicon replacement.
NREL, Swiss researchers break 35% cell efficiency
A collaborative project between the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratories and researchers from two Swiss centers has tested a range of multi junction cells in tandem configuration, and achieved efficiencies of up to 35.9%.
Audi & Alta Devices to develop solar for cars
The gallium arsenide PV maker will collaborate with Audi on thin-film solar research, with plans to exhibit a PV-integrated Audi prototype vehicle by the end of this year.
SunPower announces pilot line for new back-contact technology
The new 5 MW line in Silicon Valley will produce cells and modules under a new IBC technology from the company that makes the most powerful commercially available silicon solar products.
Imec hits 23.9% efficiency with tandem perovskite/silicon mini-module
Belgian research institute Imec has achieved a conversion efficiency of 23.9% on a perovskite/silicon tandem module measuring 4 square centimeters. This efficiency level, according to Imec, represents the first time such a stacked configuration has outperformed a standalone silicon solar cell.
Is the standalone residential solar inverter obsolete?
In this guest post for pv magazine USA, Enphase co-Founder and VP of Products and Strategic Initiatives Raghu Belur looks at the future of residential solar inverters versus AC modules, drawing parallels from the personal computing industry.
