Texas researchers develop new method for solar desalination
A team of researchers from Rice University in Houston, Texas has developed a new method for using solar power to desalinate sea water. Part of a federally funded research effort into water treatment , the team has developed a system utilizing a combination of membrane distillation and nanophotonics to turn salt water into fresh drinking water.
New alloy could pave the way for new CPV designs
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new semiconductor alloy that can capture near-infrared light in the leading edge of the visible light spectrum. This could be a major step forward in the development of concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) technology.
Soltec to launch nextgen SF7 tracker at Intersolar Europe
Soltec plans to launch its next-generation solar tracker, the SF7, at Intersolar Europe. The company claims that the single-axis tracker enables up to five percent greater yield than its competitors.
NREL develops controllable quantum dot systems
Researchers at the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a new designer quantum dot system, which allows for greater control over optoelectronic properties of the materials.
Thin film solar hangs on as a niche
A new report by Lux Research finds that First Solar and Solar Frontier are holding onto a corner of the market, if not posing much of a threat to c-Si dominance.
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.
