Netherlands

The Solliance consortium achieved a 29.2% record efficiency for the solar cell in November 2021, from just 28.7% in March 2020. In recent months, it increased the perovskite cell for the tandem device from 17.8% to 19.7%.

Also on the rise: Comparing performance of transparent solar windows to traditional windows. Solar project makes use of idle capped landfill in New Jersey. And more.

The fire affected an area of around 5,000 square meters but did not damage the solar panels. The local fire brigade was able to control the fire in around two hours.

Also on the rise: An American at Intersolar. Why a long-term maintenance plan is essential. Solar that works in the shade. Scout Clean Energy buys nearly 400 MW of First Solar modules. Pine Gate purchases 2.4 GWh of EnerVenue batteries. And more.

Solar panels abound, racking and battery choices expand, and robots make a move – Intersolar 2022 and ESS Europe. But first, how to get there.

Also starting up: Dutch two-seat solar EV for ride sharing, and French company Supersola releases a plug-and-play solar module.

Developers say the design approach can prevent soil deterioration and still offer the same yield as south-oriented PV plants.

Also starting up: Space Force awards $50k to flesh out an idea for a solar-thermal spacecraft, and Lightyear finds a manufacturer for its solar EV.

Yotta Energy just won seed funding to install batteries under solar modules — in an architecture analogous to microinverters and optimizers.

Despite the pandemic, residential solar growth continues. Commercial solar, always the problem child, is having trouble coping with the virus.